The 2024 SITA (State Information Technology Agency) Robotics Challenge took place in Summerstrand, Gqeberha at the Radisson Blu Hotel and Southern Sun Marine Hotel from 25 – 26 September 2024.
The annual event is held in collaboration with the DBE, serving as a platform for public and private sectors to engage and share experiences collectively, as well as solutions and ideas that showcase the power of technology to promote better planning, enhanced service delivery, sustainable development, and grow inclusive economies for improving the lives of South Africans.
During his opening address on Day 1, Mr Christo Jones, Chief Education Specialist for Coding and Robotics under the DBE’s MST, Innovation and E-Learning Directorate, acknowledged the collaborative effort between provinces, provincial managers, district officials, and educators. “The Coding and Robotics curriculum has been finalised, and South Africa is the only country that has managed to offer both subjects as a combination. We wish to add Coding and Robotics from the Foundation Phase in all languages", added Mr Jones. A conversation on Mental Wellness was presented by Ms Ntombikayise Banda-Lepsta, who touched on the impact of competitions on the learner's mental wellness and gave them tips on how to combat anxiety and stress experienced during competitions.
The participating schools advanced to the national final through essay writing where they were tasked with coming up with solutions aimed at addressing the Sustainable Development Goals targets and solving them by making use of basic tech methods. The schools also worked on finalising their presentations and building solutions on Robots. Day 2 commenced with a welcoming address from SITA's Acting Managing Director, Mr Siphiwe Dzengwa, who remarked that SITA took a deliberate policy position to include Coding and Robotics to become part of the school curriculum, and these initiatives by the government ensure that the proper learning framework from as early as Grade R, in public schools across the country is implemented. Dr Stella Bvuma, Board Member for SITA, motivated and encouraged the learners, by touching on the endless opportunities that young people within the ICT sector can be exposed to.
Each school was given 15 minutes to present, and some of the solutions demonstrated were aimed at addressing issues relating to sustainable environments, physical wellness and disability awareness within various South African communities. The evening concluded with the top three schools under the primary school category being announced, seeing Inkonjane Primary School from the North West Province securing third position with a prize money amounting to R200,000. Second position was claimed by Kutung Primary School, from Soshanguve in Pretoria, Gauteng Province whilst Mashupye-Tladi Primary School from Limpopo Province was crowned as the winners, taking home an impressive R500,000 cash prize. The Secondary School category saw JG Meiring Secondary School from the Western Cape Province taking third place, also claiming R200,000 and R300,000 was awarded to Enkangala Secondary School from Gauteng Province. Cosmo City High School from Gauteng Province was the winning school under the respective category, taking home R500,000.