The Department of Education in collaboration with The African News Agency (ANA) recently launched Student360, educational news, curricula and advice platform for pupils, educators, parents and advertisers. The content on the website includes study materials, worksheets for pupils from Grades 1 to 11 and past examinations papers for Grade 12 learners. This content is available for free for government schools, universities and colleges to private schools, colleges and universities. The worksheets can be accessed offline and can be shared with friends.
The site also has a variety of the latest news within the education sector, learning, schools and colleges, study guides, past papers and more to assist learners. According to Vasantha Angamuthu, CEO of ANA: “Building and managing an education portal has been a long-held dream of ours and our decision to launch it now, in a time of Covid-19, was a response to the need we recognised among teachers, learners and parents to salvage the 2020 academic year”. She went further staying it was a long-term investment for future generations.
During the virtual launch, Mbongiseni Mazibuko, Chief Director of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Education Department said online learning platforms have become the future and Covid-19 should be seen as a blessing in disguise.
“Covid-19 has taught us teaching and learning cannot be confined to the four walls of the classroom. It can happen remotely. Former model-c schools used to be way ahead as compared to the majority of our learners.Covid-19 came to us as a blessing in disguise, forcing us to do things differently, forcing us to think differently and forcing us to channel our energies and our efforts into the right spaces and for the right reasons,” said Mazibuko.
Student360 content editor, Tony Oosthuizen said they will continue to make improvements on the portal and ensure pupils only receive the best. “We are committed to ensuring that we all work together to make the best of a difficult year due to Covid-19 and to play our role in this community to ensure pupils are supported and make the best decisions for the future careers,” he said.
