The Northern Cape Department of Education, in partnership with Cisco Networking Academy and the Hanley Group, will introduce structured digital-skills training to 235 schools across the province, officials said. Classes are expected to begin in February next year and will target learners in grades 10 to 12.
What the programme covers
The offering includes courses in artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, networking and broader digital literacy. The initiative aims to prepare learners for a labour market increasingly shaped by automation, AI and connected technologies, while closing gaps in digital safety, technical support and foundational skills.
"The initiative focuses on closing several priority skills gaps: foundational digital literacy, responsible and productive use of AI, digital safety, cyber security awareness, technical support, networking and exposure to emerging-technology career pathways," said Abraham Vosloo, MEC for the Northern Cape Department of Education.
Cisco Networking Academy will supply the curriculum, online learning platform and instructor materials at no cost to participating schools, the partners said. The Hanley Group Academy will manage technical onboarding, classroom set-up and quality assurance and act as the primary contact for teachers once courses begin.
How the courses will be delivered
The approved learning offering is intended for learners from grades 10 to 12. Initially, the material will be delivered as structured extracurricular programmes rather than being incorporated into the formal CAPS curriculum. Teachers will receive structured development and ongoing support so they can facilitate the courses and monitor learner performance.
Partners emphasised that the rollout will provide exposure to emerging-technology career pathways for learners interested in computer applications technology, science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Scale and context
Cisco Networking Academy is a long-standing global skills-to-jobs programme that began in 1997. According to the partners, it has reached more than 28.6 million learners in 195 countries. In South Africa the programme had trained in excess of 600 000 learners by June.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Schools in Northern Cape to receive courses | 235 |
| Global learners reached by Cisco Networking Academy | 28.6 million |
| South African learners trained through the programme (to June) | 600 000+ |
Local impact and practical considerations
The Northern Cape is South Africa’s largest and most sparsely populated province, with many rural communities facing connectivity and resource challenges. The partners have signalled support for technical onboarding and classroom set-up, but the success of the rollout will depend on several practical factors: internet access at schools, reliable power, teacher capacity and ongoing technical support.
- Teacher support: Hanley Group Academy will provide onboarding and be the first point of contact for teachers.
- Delivery model: Courses will run as extracurricular structured learning for grades 10–12 initially.
- Curriculum access: Cisco will make the learning platform and materials available at no cost to participating schools.
Education department officials described the programme as a step towards equipping learners with skills for future employment, especially in technology-related fields. The extracurricular format allows schools to introduce the material without immediate changes to the CAPS timetable, but any long-term integration would require curriculum processes and further consultation.
What to expect next
Preparations will continue ahead of the February start date. Schools and teachers selected for the initial rollout should expect technical onboarding and training from the Hanley Group Academy, while the Cisco Networking Academy platform will form the backbone of course delivery and assessment.
For parents and learners, the programme offers an avenue to develop technical and digital safety awareness before leaving school. For the province, the partnership could broaden access to increasingly important technology skills, provided logistical and infrastructural barriers are addressed.
Officials did not provide a detailed list of the 235 participating schools in the material supplied to media. Further specifics about connectivity solutions, the schedule of teacher training and assessment arrangements are expected as the February rollout approaches.
Elmarie Coetzee
Northern Cape correspondent
