For many children growing up in small towns in and around Middelburg, robotics and coding can feel like something only seen on television or in big city schools.

But learners at Siyifunile Secondary School in Dullstroom are getting the chance to build, test and explore technology for themselves through a brand-new robotics lab.

Learners from Grade Eight right through to matric are now getting hands-on experience in coding, robotics and computer technology inside a colourful modern classroom designed to encourage creativity, confidence and problem-solving.

The launch day was filled with energy as learners explored robotics equipment, coding activities and exciting ‘Robot Wars’, where young innovators tested their creations against one another.

School principal Lynette Mongwe said the programme is already inspiring learners in a big way, “The robotics programme is giving learners new and fresh inspiration and a reason to come to school,” she said.

She added that learners are learning through ‘trying, testing and improving skills’, which she believes is ‘without a doubt the future of South Africa’.

“It is equipping learners with valuable skills that they can actually start using immediately,” she said.

The learners will receive coding and robotics lessons in school hours, while Grade 10 to 12 learners will also take part in after-school programmes focused on technology.

The robotics lab is the first project of its kind jointly funded by the Shoprite Foundation and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) in Mpumalanga, and joins four similar labs already established in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

Boitumelo Lekhoe, who attended the launch, described the day as inspiring and said the programme is opening doors for young people in rural communities.

“Digital skills are no longer a luxury; they are part of the future waiting for today’s learners,” she said.

She also joined in during the Robot Wars competition.

“Tensions were high during the Robot Wars as the young innovators battled it out. I’m happy to report that I joined in on the fun and even won a round,” she said.

Educational partners Sifiso EdTech and Social Coding South Africa will assist with training and support to ensure the programme becomes part of everyday learning. The lab was launched through a partnership between the Shoprite Foundation and the DBSA, with more than R1m invested into the project.

For communities around Middelburg, Belfast, Dullstroom and nearby areas, the project is a reminder that talent can grow anywhere, even in the smallest towns.

Siyifunile Secondary School is proving that rural Mpumalanga schools can also dream big, build big, and prepare learners for a changing world.

And who knows, in the near future, robots may do far more than simply tell us when to stop and go.