JOHANNESBURG - As the country marked Youth Day, young people in Pimville, Soweto explored what equal access to education means in the age of artificial intelligence.
Pupils gathered to discuss technology-driven solutions to problems in their communities and showcase ideas aimed at building a more inclusive future.
Today, more young South Africans are in classrooms than ever before. But with unemployment, violent crime and the rising cost of living casting a shadow over their futures, many argue that access to education alone is no longer enough.
The footsteps of the young people who marched against Bantu Education still echo through the streets of Soweto. But five decades later, many young South Africans say the gap between those with opportunities and those without remains painfully wide.
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“I think we still have a long way to go. Why? Because looking at schools that are in townships, in villages, for example, in Limpopo, in my village, we still have a lot to improve," said Brilliant Ndlozi, a pupil.
This was echoed by Kamohelo Majoro who said her school lacked basic necessary resources such as textbooks and chairs.
As AI transforms the way people learn and work, many fear unequal access to technology could deepen the divide. But for those who witnessed the struggles of the past, there is optimism.
Fifty years after the youth of 1976 demanded a better education, today’s generation is fighting a different battle, one to ensure that no pupil is left behind in the digital age.
Watch video for full report by Naomi Kobbie