On Thursday, 29 October, learners and staff at Tygerberg Hospital School in Parow gained access to high-speed internet, thanks to a fibre connectivity donation from three private companies.

The companies, internet service providers RSAWEB and Octotel, along with buildings and infrastructure-engineering and -advisory practice Zutari, did so by providing high-speed fibre connectivity to the school.

Tygerberg Hospital School provides formal education to young patients who receive long-term treatment at the hospital and who have to stay over at the facility for extended periods.

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Fibre

Having previously had to make do with mobile solutions and teachers using their own personal data, a 1 GB fibre line has been supplied to the school at no cost, RSAWEB said following the official handover ceremony at 10:00.

In a statement, the company said this donation now allowed teachers and staff to download lesson plans, return e-mails, participate in online events and education, use technology to empower the teachers and children and to enable the school to function more efficiently so teachers can focus on the amazing work that they do. The school currently can serve up to 50 children per day. These are children who are in hospital or receiving care as outpatients need to be able to continue their education. The school currently can assist children from Grade R to Grade 12, they said.

Education

“We are so privileged to be able to assist the Tygerberg Hospital School in the amazing work that they do,” said Rudy van Staden, RSAWEB chief executive. “Making sure that children do not fall behind in their education while they may be ill or recovering, is something that we feel passionately about. And being able to connect the school provides both teachers and children with the knowledge that they can now access new ways of learning and focus on education and not having to worry about how they are able to run the school without a proper connection.”

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