MTN SA Foundation: Education white papers
Date of work: 2025
“The Trialogue team were efficient and professional, and we were very satisfised with the quality of the white papers – they were well researched and well drafted.”
Arthur Mukhuvha: General Manager, MTN Foundation
In 2025, the MTN SA Foundation revised its CSI strategy to take forward the MTN Group Strategy: Ambition 2025 which aligns with MTN’s business strategy and makes a sustainable developmental impact in the communities MTN serves. The revised strategy is centred around contributing to the realisation of the National Development Plan for the country. Education is the primary focus of the MTN SA Foundation.
Trialogue was retained to develop three white papers on strategic and technology-based enablers of quality education:
- Empowering teachers with ICT skills
- Enabling access to digital content
- Inclusion of vulnerable and marginalised children
The research focused on secondary school education, the role of the private sector and considerations for public-private collaboration and partnership. South Africa was the primary focus, but the research drew on examples from other countries in emerging and developed markets.
Trialogue used a qualitative approach, comprising a literature review and semi-structured interviews. The literature review focused on materials relevant to the South African education system and interviews were conducted with government officials at both national and provincial levels, academics, think tanks, EdTech service providers, grantmaking institutions and industry bodies.
Each paper began with an overview of the educational context in South Africa, unpacking the general state of education as well as the challenges facing the education system. This was followed by an outline of policy direction and government-led initiatives, key players in the space, challenges and barriers to each strategic enabler, and gaps and opportunities for the private sector. Each paper contained a best practice overview based on lessons learned from other countries and organisations. The papers concluded with recommendations for private sector companies wishing to make an impact in each area.
The papers were shared with the MTN SA Foundation’s education team and will be used as part of the foundation’s broader strategic review process.
