Seseko Expands Robotics And Coding To Remote KwaZulu Natal Schools To Advance Digital Literacy And STEM

Aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4, Quality Education, this initiative places digital literacy, innovation, and STEM readiness at the centre of learning for children who have traditionally been left out of the rapidly advancing digital world.

Nestled in the uMzinyathi District Municipality, the rural town of Pomeroy is home to schools that face significant resource constraints, including limited access to technology, understaffed computer labs, and a lack of structured STEM pathways for learners. Against this backdrop, Seseko has stepped in to ensure that learners in these communities are not left behind as the world shifts toward automation, artificial intelligence, and robotics.

Four schools are currently participating in the programme:

Mabaso Secondary SchoolSakhiseni High SchoolSampofu Combined SchoolNdabankulu Primary School

Through this effort, 1,120 learners have already completed the first phase of training. These young people now form the pioneering group of Robotics and Coding Ambassadors in Pomeroy. They will carry the knowledge forward, support peers in their classrooms, and champion the introduction of robotics and coding across all grades in their schools. This approach strengthens continuity, builds a supportive learning culture, and encourages peer-to-peer mentorship.

Transforming education where it matters most

Robotics and coding are not just technical subjects. They are the foundation of problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, and future economic participation. For learners in rural communities, where opportunities are limited and unemployment is high, exposure to such subjects can be life-changing.

In communities like Pomeroy, many learners have never touched a robot, worked with Bluetooth-enabled kits, or written a single line of code. This programme is closing that gap by providing robotics kits, structured learning materials, hands-on practical sessions, and continuous guidance from trained facilitators.

By giving learners tools to build, design, and code robots, Seseko is not only teaching them technical skills but opening doors to emerging careers in engineering, automation, software development, and robotics. These careers are projected to grow exponentially in South Africa and worldwide.

Empowering teachers for long-term sustainability

A programme of this nature only succeeds when teachers are supported, confident, and fully equipped. Seseko recognises that robotics and coding are new subjects for many rural educators. To ensure lasting impact, Seseko has committed to providing 12 months of continuous in-school support.

Teachers receive foundational robotics and coding training, classroom coaching sessions, assistance with lesson planning, on-site troubleshooting and technical support, monthly progress check-ins, and ongoing development and mentorship.

While teachers may face challenges as they learn to teach this new subject, they are not alone. Seseko’s facilitators, who are female student teachers trained in robotics and coding, will remain present throughout the year to guide and support the process step by step. This teacher-first approach ensures that the programme is not a once-off intervention but a sustainable model that strengthens the school system from within.

Why this work matters

The digital divide continues to widen across South Africa, especially in rural provinces like KwaZulu-Natal. With the rise of artificial intelligence, automation, and digital transformation, millions of young people risk being excluded from future economic participation simply because they lack access to early STEM education.

Seseko’s work directly addresses this crisis by bringing advanced technology into communities that need it most. The programme not only prepares learners for the future but also revitalises rural education through innovation, opportunity, and hope.

Schools that were once limited to chalkboards and textbooks are now becoming centres of technological exploration. Learners who may have never imagined opportunities in robotics or coding are now designing, programming, and testing robots, often for the first time in their lives.

A message from Bradley Maseko, CEO of Seseko

“A sustainable approach to robotics and coding in rural schools requires more than a once-off intervention. It demands consistency, mentorship, and a commitment to walk alongside teachers and learners over time. In communities like Pomeroy, bringing robotics and coding is not about introducing a new subject. It is about transforming the future of young people who deserve the same opportunities as their peers in urban schools. Our goal is to build a model that empowers communities from within, creating lasting change that continues long after the programme ends. Through our partnership with Microsoft South Africa, we are proving that no distance is too far and no school is too remote for world-class digital education.”