Pupils during assembly at Bopasenatla Secondary School, which recently received a new technology makerspace.
Image: Regent Business School Facebook
Bopasenatla Secondary School in Soweto has added a new technology makerspace to its campus, marking another milestone in the school’s turnaround from near closure to academic success.
The iLeadLAB was donated by Regent Business School and officially unveiled on February 24.
The facility is valued at approximately R400 000 and is designed to expand access to practical, future-focused learning.
Bopasenatla Secondary School deputy principal, Hlamalani Mhlongo.
Image: Supplied
Since 2021, enrolment at the school has grown from under 200 learners to more than 1 100.
In 2025, the school achieved a 100 percent matric pass rate, with every learner earning a bachelor’s or diploma pass.
When Regent Business School approached the Gauteng Department of Education for recommendations, five schools were shortlisted for consideration. Following site visits, Bopasenatla Secondary School was selected.
“For us, it was never only about infrastructure,” said Hoosen Essof, Head of Community Engagement, Innovation and Student Experience at Regent Business School. “We look for schools where leadership is changing outcomes against the odds.
At Bopasenatla, we saw a principal who rebuilt a school through vision and determination.
“The iLeadLAB strengthens that momentum and places powerful tools in the hands of learners who might never otherwise access them.”
Kekeletso Radebe, Coding and Robotics teacher, inside the school’s new iLeadLAB technology makerspace.
Image: Supplied
The iLeadLAB includes a laser cutting machine, 3D printers, virtual reality headsets, a sublimation printer and specialised furniture.
Teachers will receive hands-on training and ongoing support to ensure the lab is effectively integrated into lessons across subjects.
The makerspace is designed to support practical learning, from history projects that involve creating artefacts to coding and robotics applications that extend beyond textbooks.
Principal Radzuma Bopasen said the facility arrived at a crucial time for the school.
“This donation came when we needed it most,” he said. “We introduced computer application technology and robotics in recent years, but without advanced tools, there was a gap.
Gauteng Education Department's circuit manager Mocheke Thoka.
Image: Supplied
“This lab helps us balance the curriculum and prepare learners for a world shaped by artificial intelligence and digital skills.
“For our learners, many of whom have never interacted with this kind of technology, it is a blessing that will keep them relevant and confident.”
The iLeadLAB model aims to introduce emerging technologies at school level so that learners are better prepared for tertiary studies and the workplace.
Many township learners encounter advanced tools for the first time at university, often placing them at a disadvantage.
The lab is also intended to function as a space where learners can experiment and explore entrepreneurial ideas, linking technology skills to real-world opportunities.