Future-ready Classrooms | Regional Focus

Isuzu's AI and Robotics Centre Boosts STEM Learning In The Eastern Cape

By Jessie Taylor

In a significant stride toward nurturing young innovators, Isuzu Motors South Africa has inaugurated a state-of-theart AI, Coding and Robotics Centre at Astra Primary School in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. This initiative signals a powerful fusion of industry, education, and social investment designed to align with the region’s future-focused development goals.

Launched in partnership with Sifiso EdTech, a division of the Sifiso Learning Group founded by Sizwe Nxasana and Dr Judy Dlamini, the centre transforms classroom learning with immersive technology. With an investment exceeding R1.2 million, the facility boasts robotics kits, laptops, tablets, advanced coding software, and a fully customised computer lab to introduce learners to future-facing technologies.

Holistic Educator and Learner Support

Recognising that success begins with teachers, the centre includes five-day training workshops, structured lesson plans, assessment tools, and 12 months of educator support. The centre also serves as a community hub, hosting robotics competitions and coding exhibitions that foster pupil engagement and pride.

This centre embodies Isuzu’s corporate social responsibility strategy, which positions education as a critical societal pillar.

STEM education in South Africa is increasingly recognised as a critical driver of economic growth, innovation, and global competitiveness. However, access to quality STEM education remains uneven and often limited by structural inequalities.

According to the Department of Basic Education, fewer than 30% of Grade 12 learners choose pure mathematics, a key gateway subject for STEM careers.

In 2023, only 48.6% of learners passed mathematics with 40% or more, a decline from previous years, while science performance also remained modest. Moreover, the National Advisory Council on Innovation reports that South Africa continues to lag behind many developing nations in producing science and engineering graduates, raising concerns about future talent pipeline.

Despite these challenges, there is growing emphasis on boosting STEM uptake at both school and tertiary levels. Programmes like the Department of Science and Innovation’s Youth into Science Strategy and initiatives such as Isuzu’s new AI and Robotics Centre in the Eastern Cape aim to inspire students, particularly in under-resourced communities, to pursue STEM careers.

The Human Sciences Research Council underscores that students from rural and township schools often lack access to laboratories, qualified teachers, and digital learning tools—further reinforcing the importance of public-private partnerships in bridging these gaps.

The need for strong STEM education is underscored by South Africa’s broader goals - ranging from job creation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution to enhancing infrastructure, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.

A Catalyst for Technology

This project reflects a deeper ambition: closing South Africa’s skills gap through early STEM education. By situating this centre in Gqeberha, a historically under-resourced area, the initiative aligns with national equity priorities and the Department of Basic Education’s Coding and Robotics CAPS curriculum.

“We want to see learners as creators, not just consumers of technology,” said Celestin Ndhlovu, Vice President of Corporate Services at Isuzu Motors SA.

Isuzu Motors South Africa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan’s Isuzu Motors Ltd., has steadily entrenched itself in South Africa’s automotive sector. Isuzu employs staff focused on assembling commercial trucks and pickups at its Gqeberha manufacturing site. The facility spans over 16,602 m² and has an annual production capacity of around 5,000 commercial trucks and 23,000 bakkies. Isuzu’s economic impact extends beyond manufacturing. Through its Isuzu Foundation, the company invests in community development and youth empowerment. Recent initiatives include a R278,250 donation to support child-focused organisations through the Ironman4theKidz fundraiser, and educational investments exceeding R1.2 million in primary school infrastructure and literacy programmes.

In the long term, the Isuzu centre promises to catalyse digital literacy, reduce education inequality, and bolster the Eastern Cape’s social and economic fabric. As students move through high school, they may bring STEM capabilities into regional industries, from port logistics to vehicle manufacturing, aligning local talent to emerging opportunities.

Through investment in infrastructure, teacher development, and community engagement, the project offers students, educators, and the broader public sector a template for building a future-ready learning ecosystem.

Source: TimesLIVE | Cape Business News | Department of Basic Education (DBE) | National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) | Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) | Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) | Stats SA