MANGWENI, Mpumalanga – Silindokuhle Special School has officially launched a fully equipped digital computer laboratory, bringing transformative learning opportunities to 200 students with severe intellectual disabilities, including those who are deaf and visually impaired.
The facility, one of only three such installations in the province, forms part of a broader effort to enhance equitable access to quality education and empower youth with disabilities across South Africa. For many learners, the launch marked their first hands-on experience with a computer, sparking visible excitement and renewed optimism about their educational pathways.
Students shared how the new resources address long-standing barriers. “Now our question papers will be brailed for us so that we can be able to read ourselves,” one learner explained, noting that previously depending on teachers to read materials placed them at a disadvantage, particularly when preparing for tertiary education where such support is rarely available. Another learner reflected on past struggles: “We had serious challenges because we didn’t have all the gadgets that we needed which made learning very difficult for us.” With the new lab, students expressed confidence they would build digital fluency and excel academically as they progress to university.
Families of learners also voiced strong support. “We appreciate this as parents in the school so that our children can learn in a conducive environment. Even though they are blind, they are able to do anything. This will greatly help them,” said a parent representative. “We are very thankful.”
A sponsor spokesperson highlighted the tailored design of the intervention. After observing learners using braille and sign language, the team identified a critical gap in ICT access: standard computers are often incompatible with the needs of deaf and blind students. To address this, the sponsor supplied interactive whiteboards featuring cameras, touchscreens, and internet connectivity, enabling a single educator to deliver lessons to multiple schools simultaneously. The sponsor has also assigned a dedicated facilitator to support instruction and committed to ongoing maintenance and security for the laboratory.
An education department spokesperson emphasized the holistic support accompanying the infrastructure upgrade. “What we are doing is also to assist the school in terms of its needs of physical resources through their post establishment that we assist them to recruit suitably qualified educators that are going to assist in the provision of quality education which is meant directly for the learners living with these conditions.”
Community members have been urged to help protect and preserve the school’s new assets. With inclusive technology now in place, learners at Silindokuhle Special School are better positioned to overcome educational barriers, develop independence, and pursue future academic and professional goals with greater confidence.