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                                    Left: Hunt Road Secondary Learner Aphiwe Madondo pictured with IQRAA Trust Chair Dr Mahmoud Baker. Right: Hunt Road Secondary Learner Luyanda Ncgobo pictured with Dr Mohamed Fayaz Khan (UKZN). UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL FOUNDATION 5%u2018The One of the key challenges faced by disadvantaged schools is the lack of access to STEM resources, including digital tools and trained educators. Many schools, like Hunt Road Secondary, do not offer computer programming as part of the curriculum, making it difficult for students to develop these crucial technical skills that would serve them well in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.%u2019 DR MOHAMMED FAYAZ KHAN and electronic circuits using Arduino Starter Kits. Over the course of two immersive sessions, UKZN honours and postgraduate students guided learners through the fundamentals of programming, demystifying complex concepts and making them accessible through interactive projects.Each session begins with an introduction to the importance of STEM in today%u2019s technology-driven world. From there, students delve into the basics of microcontroller programming, learning how to write code that controls LED lights and sensors. As their confidence grows, they progress to more intricate projects, experimenting with microcontrollers to develop simple yet functional electronic systems.Beyond theoretical instruction, the workshops emphasise practical application. Students are encouraged to build, test and refine their own electronic creations, culminating in an engaging project showcase where they demonstrate their newfound skills. The enthusiasm at their latest showcase was palpable as learners, many of whom had never coded before, proudly presented their self-programmed devices.To further incentivise and support continued exploration, two of the most engaged students were awarded Arduino Starter Kits, enabling them to continue their learning beyond the classroom.UKZN Electrical Engineering lecturer Dr Mohamed Fayaz Khan said, %u2018One of the key challenges faced by disadvantaged schools is the lack of access to STEM resources, including digital tools and trained educators. Many schools, like Hunt Road Secondary, do not offer computer programming as part of the curriculum, making it difficult for students to develop these crucial technical skills that would serve them well in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.%u2019This programme tackles these barriers head-on by providing Arduino Starter Kits and learning materials to the students. The trained UKZN facilitators then deliver structured, yet adaptable lessons from a carefully designed curriculum to break down complex concepts, making STEM subjects approachable and exciting.Beyond the immediate impact of the workshops, the SAIEE UKZN Student Chapter is working with Hunt Road Secondary to help establish a coding and robotics club %u2013an initiative sparked by students%u2019 keen interest during a prior school visit. Introducing a formal programming subject requires significant 
                                
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