SA soccer stadium now hosts connected learning centre

DEVELOPMENT

Acer Africa has launched a learning centre for children at the home of the Orlando Pirates football club.

The Orlando Pirates Learning Centre was officially launched today at the home of the Double Treble Champions, Orlando Stadium.

The centre is described as a unique project designed to assist and improve on the numeracy and literacy skills of the children living in and around the Orlando township in South Africa.

Mohamed Enver Surty, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Basic Education, said: “Orlando Pirates Football Club is among the oldest and most prestigious football clubs in South Africa if not Africa. They have combined with Acer, a high tech IT company, to establish a sophisticated and modern learning centre that will provide easy access to the learners and educators of the many schools in the Orlando and greater Soweto area. It is through such partnerships that we can make a difference in providing quality education to our learners.”

Damien Durrant Country Business Manager for Acer Africa, said this was the first of more learning centres for the children of Soweto.

The Learning Centre will work collaboratively with the Department of Education to promote lifelong learning.

The centre will be open six days a week, catering for pupils between the ages of 8 and 16 years. And in addition to lessons, ICTs and internet connectivity, pupils will be motivated by Orlando Pirates’ first team players, who will step in to participate in some of the activities.