Siphamandla Secondary School embraces technology with AI-powered tablets

Heavy schoolbags packed with textbooks may soon be a thing of the past for pupils at Siphamandla Secondary School in Khayelitsha, after more than R1 million worth of AI-powered tablets were distributed to pupils on Monday, February 16.

iOCO Technology Group handed out Omang e-learning tablets to Grade 11 and 12 pupils enrolled in Mathematics and Physical Science, as part of a major digital education drive at the school.

The personalised tablets are designed to support learning in low-connectivity environments and come with 2GB of preloaded monthly data as well as offline access to learning materials.

Through the Odin system installed on the Omang devices, pupils can access personalised lessons, curated digital content, and AI-supported tools aimed at improving academic performance and preparing them for tertiary education and the world of work.

Both teachers and donors have welcomed the initiative. Steffy Naicker, group transformation manager at iOCO Technology Group, said the programme forms part of the company’s broader commitment to skills development and job creation. She added that iOCO will explore additional opportunities to support pupils, including career guidance, funding advice, and career days. The company has also pledged to sponsor full tertiary bursaries for the top five performing matric pupils from Siphamandla Secondary School’s Class of 2026.

School principal Lonwabo Mbeke said the tablets would make learning more engaging and accessible.

“Pupils will now enjoy learning on gadgets rather than relying solely on books. Teachers will also have access to a wider variety of textbooks and activities to help learners understand content better,” he said.

Teachers believe the devices will have a meaningful impact, particularly in Mathematics and Science. Maths teacher Anda Mxhego said pupils who used similar tablets last year showed significant improvement and that enrolment in Maths has since increased.

“Learners are drawn to technology. Having explanations from different voices and platforms will encourage them and help them solve problems more easily,” he said.

English teacher Zuluphe Ntlombeni acknowledged that while there are challenges, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

“It will make a huge difference. We won’t have to worry about textbook shortages, but teachers and learners must work together for it to succeed,” she said.

Grade 11 pupil Indiphile Dyongwana said she was excited to no longer carry heavy textbooks. She added that the tablets would help solve the long-standing problem of book shortages, as all the necessary materials are now available on one device

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