Steel company builds e-learning capacity for SA schools

Aveng Trident Steel is helping to build the country’s access to digital education with a million rand investment in locally developed e-learning ecosystem Odin Education.

Recently, the company handed over more than 200 dedicated educational technology tablets to the Grade 11 class at Cowan High School in Gqeberha. The sponsorship comes as learners started the second semester countdown towards their critical matric year.

New Brighton-based Cowan High School achieved an 87% matric pass rate last year, which the class of 2023 will be hoping to improve upon with the aid of their devices.

Currently used by almost 3 000 school learners in six provinces, the tablets are locked for educational purposes only and do not allow distracting social media or entertainment platforms. Each Cowan High learner received their own personalised tablet pre-loaded with mobile data and curriculum-aligned content that matches their subject choices and interests, as well as educational websites and resources to augment the learning process. A live helpdesk, providing access to technical and content support, is included in the ecosystem.

According to Odin Education’s business development manager, Dean Gurney, the device will, over time, use artificial intelligence and analytics to learn each pupil’s unique interests and capabilities and push more of this content to their device, allowing them to explore and develop their natural curiosity and creativity. “As an educational technology company, we are driven by the idea that, through education, we can provide each and every child with an ecosystem to better themselves, their communities and wider society,” said Gurney. “We welcome support from forward-thinking partners like the Aveng Trident Steel, who are looking to make a significantly greater social impact.”

Aveng Trident Steel’s financial director, Raven Brirajh, said the company was pleased to assist the country’s future leaders with technology that would enable learning. “It is equally important to provide support in the areas in which we operate. We wish the Grade 11 learners at Cowan High all the very best in their studies.”

Main Agreement has been gazetted and extended

Workshops – October and November

Obtain key insights on the Main Agreement, the Implications for Parties and Non-Parties, How to Apply for Exemption, and/or to Observe the Special Phase-in Dispensation to Pay 60% of the 2020 Minimum Rates by 30 June 2024.

The workshop will focus on:

Gazettal

- the gazettal of the main agreement and implications for parties and non-parties

Exemption

- wages, leave enhancement pay (leave bonus) etc. - special phase-in exemption

Annual leave

- understanding the leave pay and leave enhancement pay (bonus) formula’s, - what constitutes a shift for the purpose of calculating leave pay and bonus? - annual shutdown arrangements

Understanding the Key Conditions of Employment of the Main Agreement

- dealing with intermittent loadshedding; - short-time and lay-off; - sick notes signed-off by traditional healers; - family responsibility leave and how it differs from the provisions contained in the BCEA; many other key conditions of employment managers must be aware of!

When you leave, you will be well versed in the conditions of employment for employees covered by the Main Agreement

Wages Rates • Payment for overtime • Calculation of shifts for leave & leave enhancement pay

Managing sick leavecMaternity leave • Sick Pay Fund Benefits • The Annual Shutdown

The Wage and Leave Bonus Exemption Procedure • Flexible working time arrangements

Family responsibility leave • Managing sick notes • Standby and call-out allowances

Annual leave pay & Leave enhancement pay

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