ULLOVU Secondary School has been nominated to participate in the Iris Lab National Campaign, where winning schools will receive a fully installed Iris Laboratory, featuring Iris, Africa’s first tutor robot.

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Developed by Thando Gumede through her company, BSG Technologies, Iris is an artificial intelligence (AI) educational robot capable of teaching subjects across multiple levels, from Grade R to tertiary education, in 11 South African languages. The robot supports teaching and learning through interactive tutoring, automated assessments, and intelligent marking.

Explaining her vision for Iris, Gumede, a former teacher, said her robot will revolutionise the education sector and bridge the digital gap in the country, especially in the fields of science and technology.

“My dream is to see Iris in every classroom across South Africa, especially in rural and under-resourced communities where qualified teachers and learning materials are scarce,” said Gumede.

She added that her team is working towards securing investments to upscale manufacturing.

“We’re setting up our plants, acquiring equipment and preparing for mass deployment. The goal is to make Iris affordable, accessible and adaptable to every learner’s needs,” she said.

Mbongiseni Mazibuko, the deputy director-general for curriculum management and delivery at the KZN Department of Education, said his department aims to champion efforts to train and prepare teachers for AI.

“Technology is not here to replace teachers, but rather innovations like Iris will be part and parcel of the future of teaching and learning. We need to make our teachers ready for these technologies, and as a department, we embrace Iris,” said Mazibuko.

Other prizes that the Lovu township school stands to win include tablets for digital learning.

How to vote?
Dial *120*33124#
Enter School Code: USS30
Cost: R1.50 per vote
There is no limit to the number of votes one can cast, and voting closes on May 31.

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