Learners from across Gauteng moved beyond the textbook to build, code, experiment and solve real problems at the Coding and Robotics 2026 Provincials, hosted in the east of Johannesburg.
Sangari South Africa used the provincial competition to demonstrate how the Engino educational ecosystem is being applied in STEM, coding and robotics teaching in South African schools.
“The event underlined a simple but important principle: coding and robotics are not only about learning technology. They are about learning how to think,” said Dr Darius Sangari, a director of Sangari South Africa.
“Through Engino, learners work with tangible building systems, robotics and coding while developing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) concepts. They build models, test ideas, identify what does not work, modify their designs and try again, turning learning into an active process of discovery.
He said for schools, the approach develops skills that extend well beyond coding itself:
- Problem-solving — learners tackle challenges and work towards practical solutions.
- Critical and computational thinking — learners break problems down, recognise patterns and develop logical sequences.
- Creativity and innovation — the Engino system allows learners to modify and reconfigure models rather than reproduce a predetermined answer.
- Hands-on engineering — learners see how mechanical principles, electronics, sensors and programming come together in a working system.
- Collaboration — many activities require learners to communicate ideas and develop solutions as a team.
- Learning by doing — Engino connects theory to practical challenges, so learners understand how STEM principles work in the real world.
“Engino is not simply a collection of robotics kits. Its educational ecosystem combines building systems, curriculum, lesson plans, teacher guides, software and teacher training, giving schools a structured way to integrate STEM and robotics into teaching and learning,” he said.
2026 Gauteng Provincial Competition winners
The 2026 Provincial Competition winners were: first place, Mahlenga Secondary School, followed by Winile Secondary School,  Magalies State School in third place and Diepsloot Secondary School in fourth place.
Gauteng Sept of Education support
Sangari South Africa acknowledged the Gauteng Department of Education representatives who attended and supported the event: Antoinette Nicolaai, Gauteng GET Curriculum Director; Christo Jones, Chief Education Specialist; and Patrick Ntenjwa, Senior Education Specialist.
“Their participation reflects the importance of collaboration between education authorities, schools and industry in creating meaningful opportunities for learners to develop the skills needed for a technology-driven future.
“At Sangari, we believe the future of STEM education is not about teaching learners what technology can do, it is about giving them the confidence and skills to understand, question, build and create with it. The learners competing today are developing more than robots. They are developing the problem-solvers, engineers, innovators and technology creators of tomorrow.”
About Sangari Education
Sangari South Africa is a solutions company specialising in STEM, coding, robotics and Industry 4.0 learning systems for schools and institutions. It is the official reseller of the Engino modular STEM and robotics ecosystem in South Africa, supporting schools with hardware, curriculum-aligned resources, software and teacher training. www.sangari.co.za
