In a powerful step towards fostering equity and innovation in South Africa’s education system, the British Council, in collaboration with the DBE and key education stakeholders, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting digital transformation through the Leading Learning for Digital Education and Inclusion (LL4DEI) initiative. This programme enhances ongoing efforts by empowering school leaders to champion digital inclusion and to meaningfully integrate digital technologies in teaching and learning.

A major milestone in the initiative was the successful hosting of the LL4DEI Material Review and Train-the-Trainer Workshop, held at Birchwood OR Tambo Hotel and Conference Centre in the Gauteng Province, concluding on 28 May 2025. The workshop brought together provincial, district education and school leaders for an in-depth engagement with strategies to support digital leadership and inclusive learning environments.

In his address, Mr James Ndlebe, Chief Director for Planning and Implementation Support at the DBE, emphasised the importance of the initiative. He commended the participants for their engagement in reviewing LL4DEI materials, taking part in hands-on demonstrations and offering valuable feedback on the accessibility and practical implementation of the content.

At the heart of the programme is the Train-the-Trainer model, developed for the National Training Team (NTT). This approach builds a cadre of master trainers equipped with advanced skills in digital education leadership, inclusive instructional design and facilitation. These leaders will cascade their training to school heads and educators nationwide, ensuring widespread and sustainable implementation. The initiative forms part of the broader LL4DEI framework, which aligns with national priorities to enhance teaching and learning through technology, particularly in disadvantaged and under-resourced communities, a point highlighted by Mr Nkosana Thakgedi, Director from the Education Management and Governance Directorate (EMGD) and was confirmed by Dr Rannosi Motene, the Chief Education Specialist (CES) from E-learning.

The workshop also facilitated key discussions around the scalability, manageability and adaptability of the programme in diverse school contexts. Participants explored how LL4DEI could be aligned to the British Council Digital Guidelines for the Basic Education Sector, further reinforcing a shared commitment to inclusive digital education that ensures no learner is left behind. As the workshop concluded, the project manager, Ms Zanele Mlambo, unveiled a roll-out action plan, which will take place from 28 July to 30 October. She emphasised the criteria to be implemented in the selection of the 200 school leaders from 6 piloted provinces, along with the monitoring and support to ensure that the programme yields a positive impact in leading schools. All stakeholders departed with enhanced understanding, concrete strategies and renewed commitment to advancing digital transformation in South African schools. The event marked a critical step forward in building a more equitable, digitally fluent and future-ready education system.

Mr Glenn Allies, Head of English and School Education expressed the British Council’s excitement to be collaborating with DBE on the LL4DEI: “LL4DEI is the only way to enhance and capacitate school leaders to deliver digital education, teaching and learning in their schools. The programme aims to create a vison where principals and school leaders are able to effectively use digital education to create well run teaching and learning environments”.