The intervention is designed to strengthen access to digital learning tools and ensure that learners, particularly in under-resourced schools, are better equipped for technology-enabled education.
MTN South Africa, through the MTN SA Foundation, has renewed its support for the country’s education sector by distributing digital learning devices to selected schools nationwide as part of the Department of Basic Education’s (DBE) Back-to-School Campaign. The intervention is designed to strengthen access to digital learning tools and ensure that learners, particularly in under-resourced schools, are better equipped for technology-enabled education.
The rollout coincides with the beginning of the 2026 academic year and follows the release of the 2025 matric results. It also signals the commencement of MTN’s education initiatives for the year, aligning with national efforts to promote quality learning outcomes and integrate digital solutions into the classroom.
South Africa’s matric results season remains a unifying national milestone that brings together government, business, families, and communities around the shared responsibility of education. The Back-to-School Campaign reflects a commitment to long-term investment in learning, reinforcing education as a cornerstone of national development.
MTN’s collaboration with the Department of Basic Education spans more than 20 years, during which the MTN SA Foundation has supported a wide range of education programmes. These include the provision of e-learning platforms, training for educators, support for the adoption of Computer Applications Technology and Information Technology subjects, and the establishment of multimedia centres in both mainstream and special-needs schools.
The Foundation has also been closely associated with the national matric results announcements over the past six years, highlighting its enduring involvement in the education ecosystem. This sustained partnership underscores a shared objective of using technology to empower learners and strengthen teaching and learning outcomes.
Education remains a priority area for MTN’s corporate social investment, with over half of the Foundation’s annual CSI budget allocated to education initiatives. Key programmes include the MTN Online School, scaled through a partnership with Siyavula to provide free digital learning resources to millions of learners, alongside digital educator training and the deployment of multimedia learning facilities.
The current device donations are being delivered in partnership with provincial education departments across the country, with a focus on quintile 1 to 3 schools in disadvantaged communities. By providing access to modern digital tools, the initiative supports research, collaboration, and digital learning among learners who might otherwise lack such opportunities.
Through this programme, MTN aims to inspire learners, support schools, and reduce the digital divide. The initiative reflects the company’s broader strategy of advancing digital inclusion as a driver of socio-economic development and laying the groundwork for a more digitally skilled and competitive South Africa.
