Internet Access in Schools: A Necessity, Not a Luxury in 2025

In 2025, internet access is no longer a luxury—it is a fundamental educational tool. As the world increasingly moves toward a digital-first society, South African township and rural schools remain trapped in the past, disconnected from the transformative power of the internet.

The digital divide in education is not merely about unequal access to devices but about the denial of opportunities that come with connectivity: access to global learning resources, online skills training, and corporate sponsorships. The internet is the bridge to future-ready education, yet thousands of schools remain on the wrong side of this divide.

EduEmpower SA is on a mission to change this. By providing affordable, functional, and impactful online platforms, EduEmpower ensures that no school remains invisible to the corporate sponsors, parents, and educational tools that can transform learning outcomes for disadvantaged communities.

The Current State of Internet Access in South African Schools

South Africa’s education system serves 13 million learners across more than 24,000 public schools (DBE, 2023). While digital learning is rapidly expanding worldwide, South African schools in township and rural areas lag behind significantly.

Key Data Points Highlight the Gap:

81% of public schools have no access to the internet for teaching and learning purposes (ICASA, 2022).
Only 17% of South African schools are equipped with computers for educational use (DBE, 2023).
Rural and township schools—which serve over 80% of learners—are the most affected, further entrenching educational inequalities.

The result? While learners in well-resourced schools engage with AI tools, coding programs, and online collaborative platforms, those in township and rural schools struggle with outdated textbooks and limited access to modern knowledge sources.

Why Internet Access in Schools Is Essential in 2025

The internet is no longer an accessory to education—it is its backbone. In a world where digital literacy is as critical as reading and writing, excluding schools from the internet is effectively excluding learners from the future workforce.

Key Reasons Why Internet Access Is Essential:

1. Access to Global Educational Resources

The internet opens the door to free, high-quality resources like:

Khan Academy: Free courses in mathematics, science, and coding.

Google Scholar: Access to research and academic journals.

Africa Teen Geeks: Online coding classes tailored for African learners.

Without connectivity, learners are limited to outdated textbooks while their peers across the globe interact with real-time global knowledge.

2. Digital Literacy for Future-Ready Learners

By 2030, over 85% of jobs will require digital skills (WEF, 2023). Basic internet skills, like navigating websites, conducting online research, and understanding cybersecurity, are crucial for future employment.

Yet, most township learners only encounter the internet after leaving school, leaving them unprepared for tertiary education and the modern workplace.

3. Teacher Training and Development

The internet empowers teachers with continuous professional development through platforms like:

Microsoft Educator Center: Free training on digital teaching tools.

Coursera & Udemy: Courses on modern pedagogy and subject-specific knowledge.

Teachers in underfunded schools often lack updated teaching methods and new learning tools—a gap easily bridged by internet-based resources.

4. Parental Involvement and Community Engagement

Websites and internet-based communication tools like WhatsApp groups, Google Classrooms, and online newsletters help parents stay informed about their children’s academic progress and school activities.

For township schools, where parents often work long hours and live far from schools, digital platforms offer a critical connection point.

5. Fundraising and Corporate Sponsorship

Schools without websites or internet connectivity are invisible to potential CSI funders. EduEmpower’s digital platforms allow schools to:

Showcase school achievements and community involvement.

Post real-time updates on projects sponsored by corporates.

Provide transparency and accountability—key requirements for corporate sponsorships.

The Cost of Inaction: What Happens When Schools Remain Offline?

Without urgent intervention, South Africa risks creating a generation of digitally-illiterate learners.

The Long-Term Impact of Inaction:

1. Widened Socio-Economic Divide: Learners in township schools will continue to fall behind their urban peers, reducing their chances of pursuing high-demand STEM careers.

2. Missed Sponsorships: CSI programs allocate billions of rands annually to education, yet township schools receive disproportionately less due to their lack of online visibility.

3. Youth Unemployment Crisis: The absence of digital skills perpetuates youth unemployment, which already stands at over 60% for ages 15–24 (StatsSA, 2023).

EduEmpower’s Vision: Long-Term Internet Access for Township Schools

EduEmpower SA is pioneering a sustainable, community-driven solution to bridge this divide.

Our Solution: Digital Inclusion for Educational Impact

1. Affordable School Websites:

We provide township schools with cost-effective, content-rich websites. These websites serve as platforms for:

Fundraising initiatives, Community engagement & Corporate sponsorship showcases.

2. Community-Based Advertising Model:

Local small businesses can advertise on school websites for as little as R300 per month, creating a sustainable, recurring revenue stream for the schools.

3. Youth Employment and Digital Skills Training:

We train unemployed youth and stay-at-home parents to:

Sell advertising space on school websites.
Provide customer support to schools.
Develop basic digital literacy skills that can boost their employability.

This initiative simultaneously uplifts communities and creates long-term sustainability for internet access in schools.

4. Corporate CSI Partnerships:

Companies can sponsor multiple schools’ internet connectivity. These partnerships align with, B-BBEE Socio-Economic Development goals, ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) commitments

and Brand reputation as a community-centered organization.

These partnerships ensure that schools receive consistent, affordable, and long-term connectivity—turning websites from static pages into dynamic educational hubs.

The Benefits of Internet-Connected Schools

1. Enhanced Learning Outcomes:

Interactive tools like Kahoot!, YouTube Educational Channels, and Google Classroom engage learners more effectively than static textbooks.

2. Greater Community Involvement:

Parents and community members can stay informed and participate actively in school activities via online platforms.

3. Increased Funding Opportunities:

Corporate funders are more likely to support schools that can showcase progress online and provide impact reports through digital platforms.

The Time to Act Is Now

The global education landscape is rapidly evolving, and South African schools cannot afford to remain disconnected. With EduEmpower SA’s scalable, community-driven model, we can:

Equip thousands of schools with websites.
Train hundreds of unemployed youth to become digital sales agents.
Attract millions of rands in corporate sponsorships for educational development.