Empowering teachers for the digital age
The Herald (South Africa)
22 Sep 2025
South Africa’s learners are stepping into the digital age as Coding and Robotics officially enters the school curriculum from 2026 and a Gqeberha-based movement is playing an important role in empowering teachers for this.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has gazetted a Coding and Robotics curriculum for Grade R to 9, with Foundation Phase compulsory from 2026. This aims to equip learners with problem solving and critical thinking skills for a technology-driven future. The Foundation Phase curriculum is “unplugged”, meaning schools do not need computer labs – or even electricity – to get started. Tangible Africa, an engagement project of Nelson Mandela University’s Computing Sciences Department and the Leva Foundation, has been central to the roll-out.
Its coding games and training are used across Africa and beyond. Working with the DBE and teacher unions, Tangible Africa was part of a three-year Teacher Union Collaboration (TUC) project that upskilled thousands of teachers ahead of next year’s Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) implementation. Tangible Africa founder and Nelson Mandela University Associate Professor Jean Greyling said: “The partnership with unions as part of the TUC project has been a watershed experience for Tangible Africa. We got to be involved in the training of more than 40 000 teachers, showing how relevant and valuable unplugged and tangible coding is for South Africa. I believe this has had a huge impact in preparing teachers for the new Coding and Robotics curricula.”
Teachers who completed the training say it has already changed their classrooms. Emfundweni Primary School teacher Lwando Tshiseka, from Zwide, said: “It helps our learners to be exposed to digital skills and prepare them for a technology-driven future. I appreciate what you [Tangible Africa] have done for us.” To support teachers further, Tangible Africa has launched a WhatsApp ChatBot, distributing free weekly lessons for Grades R to 7. These lessons, developed by a team of experienced teachers, are CAPS-aligned. Consequently, Foundation Phase teachers who implement them throughout 2026, will cover the full curriculum. Feedback from teachers who have used them this year, confirm that they are easy to follow and implement.
According to Prof Greyling, “the fact that it can be presented unplugged makes it accessible to all the schools in South Africa. Furthermore, there is a strong emphasis on 21st century skills such as computational thinking, while the type of activities underlying the curriculum strongly supports group work and communication.” With Coding and Robotics now in the CAPS curriculum, and a network of trained teachers in place, Tangible Africa and Nelson Mandela University are helping to reshape education – and prepare the next generation for the jobs of the future.
The annual #coding4Mandela tournament culminates in a virtual Coding World Cup on 30 September with teams from over 20 countries participating.
