Tech giant Standard Bank initiates the STEAM Coding Contest in KwaZulu-Natal, an aim to overcome the digital disparity.
Kuunda STEAM Initiative Empowers Under-Resourced Schools in South Africa
The Kuunda STEAM initiative, a partnership between Standard Bank Group Technology, the Kuunda Disrupt Programme, and Gordon Road Girls School, is transforming the educational landscape in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The programme, which focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM), is aimed at under-resourced primary schools in the region.
The initiative provides participating schools with Raspberry Pi and Microbit kits, along with dedicated technical mentors who guide learners through monthly coding modules. This practical exposure is designed to ignite curiosity, creativity, and confidence among learners who typically lack access to IT labs and coding education.
The programme takes place in KwaZulu-Natal and targets 21 quintile 4 and 5 schools, reaching 126 learners. The initiative is the third major STEAM partnership in the region, following a previous partnership in 2024 that empowered 18 schools in KZN.
The Kuunda STEAM initiative is part of Standard Bank’s broader commitment to nurture future-ready talent across South Africa. To sustain future technical growth in South Africa, the country needs a deep and diverse pool of technical talent. By bridging the digital divide and providing hands-on STEAM education, the Kuunda STEAM initiative is helping to address this critical shortage.
The initiative has already shown promising results. Past participants of the Kuunda Disrupt programme have won national competitions, introduced robotics as a subject, and secured sponsorships for further development. The programme aims to continue this success by establishing a sustainable support model with ongoing mentorship and resources, ensuring continued engagement beyond a single event.
In summary, the Kuunda STEAM initiative significantly impacts under-resourced South African primary schools by providing crucial STEAM education resources, practical coding experience, and mentorship. This initiative helps to close the skills and digital divide gap while fostering innovation and confidence among young learners.
- The Kuunda STEAM initiative, a partnership focusing on education-and-self-development and technology, is closing the skills and digital divide gap in under-resourced primary schools in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal region.
- As part of Standard Bank's broader finance commitment, the Kuunda STEAM initiative is providing participating schools with IT resources like Raspberry Pi and Microbit kits and dedicated technical mentors for learning and developing coding skills.
- To sustain future technological growth in South Africa, the Kuunda STEAM initiative aims to establish a sustainable support model by continuing mentorship and providing resources, thus ensuring ongoing learning and potential for innovation among the learners.
