School children from Phuthaditjhaba and surrounding communities are being introduced to robotics, coding and artificial intelligence as part of a University of the Free State initiative.
The UFS QwaQwa Campus recently held a certificate ceremony for pupils who took part in the Charlie “The Crazy Shopper” Robotics initiative, which gives learners practical experience in building and programming robots.
The programme, which began in 2023, was initiated by former UFS lecturer Dr Andronicus Akinyelu. Lecturer and researcher Adebola Musa took over its directorship in 2024.
In 2026, participating pupils designed and built Charlie, a robot they programmed to respond to coding commands.
Musa, from the Department of Computer Science and Informatics, said the programme was intended to challenge the perception that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics subjects were inaccessible to children in rural communities.
“We want to demystify the idea that STEM is difficult or impossible in rural schools, while introducing learners to Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” she said.
“They do not only learn about technology; they build robots and power them with coding.”
The programme brings learners into one of the Qwaqwa Campus laboratories, where they work together to construct the robot and apply their coding in practice.
Moodi Matsoso, the campus’s community engagement coordinator, said the initiative provided an opportunity for learners to engage with STEM subjects while strengthening ties between the university and local schools.
According to Musa, teachers have reported improvements in learners’ performance in STEM subjects after participating in the programme.
Teboho Moloi, a teacher at Mohaladitwe Secondary School in Makwane, Phuthaditjhaba, said learners who participated in 2024 when they were in Grade 10 had shown improvement in STEM performance as they progressed to Grade 12.
The initiative also seeks to expose learners to university life and encourage them to consider higher education and careers in technology-related fields.
Daniel Moloi, director of community engagement at the Agape Foundation for Community Development, said the programme exposed young people to emerging technologies while creating opportunities for development in the Makwane community.
He said the programme also provides young people with constructive opportunities at a time when crime remains a challenge in many communities.
“Crime is still a problem in our communities, and this is just a drop in the ocean in bringing about change,” Moloi said.
Through its partnerships with community organisations, the UFS Qwaqwa Campus aims to continue creating opportunities for rural learners to develop practical STEM skills.
