FROM CLASSROOM TO CONSOLE: WHY SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOLS ARE EMBRACING ESPORTS

FROM CLASSROOM TO CONSOLE: WHY SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOLS ARE EMBRACING ESPORTS

Across the country, schools are rethinking how they build teamwork, leadership, and digital readiness among learners. Esports or competitive gaming, has evolved from a casual pastime into a credible part of education, offering learners a space to collaborate, problem-solve, and express themselves in a digital world.

From Cape Town to Pretoria, high schools are integrating esports into their extracurricular calendars. Teachers and coaches are discovering that gaming nurtures many of the same values as traditional sport, focus, communication, and resilience, while also building the cognitive and technical foundations associated with STEM learning.

It’s no longer an unconventional activity. South African school leagues have been developing for several years, providing structure, recognition, and even pathways into professional gaming. Among the most established is the Telkom VS Gaming High School Esports League (HSEL), presented by Samsung, which now includes 97 registered schools nationwide and culminates in live finals at Comic Con Africa and Comic Con Cape Town.

At Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch, esports has become part of holistic learner development. Around 70 learners participate each year across Rocket League, CounterStrike 2 (CS2), and EAFC, balancing practice with academics and other sporting codes.

“The kids get another opportunity to meet new learners with a like-minded mindset,” says Johannes Stoltz, coach and Head of Esports at Paul Roos. “Educators are seeing tangible benefits, learners develop stronger communication, teamwork, and leadership skills, along with digital fluency, strategic thinking, and problem-solving abilities that directly support STEM education and future careers in technology.”

“We always have some of the smartest learners in the grade competing,” Stoltz adds.

“Gaming creates great leaders and problem solvers because they’re constantly thinking under pressure and adapting fast. For many schools, adopting esports is also about ethos, giving digital athletes the same support and recognition that traditional sports has always enjoyed.”

At Parklands College in Cape Town, the enthusiasm for esports has grown rapidly.

“Our learners were already highly competitive players,” says Michael Paul Roth, Head of Esports at Parklands College and Chairman of the South African Schools Esports Association.

“Once they discovered there was a national league, they immediately recognised the opportunity to represent their school in their favourite medium. Today, 56 learners from Grade 7 to Matric compete in various titles, and the number continues to rise. Parklands’ CS teams have reached the HSEL finals four years in a row, with half of all LAN finalists in 2025 coming from the school.

Roth says esports has strengthened inclusion and community on campus.

“It provides a space for learners who aren’t necessarily academic or sporty to show their mettle. It allows them to participate, decompress, and feel like they’re part of the College.”

The HSEL has become a launchpad for this kind of growth. Since 2018, it has provided a structured, national framework for learners to compete across Rocket League, CounterStrike 2, and EAFC.

In 2025, St John’s College claimed the CS2 title, while Curro Durbanville took the Rocket League championship. All matches were streamed live on Twitch, giving learners national exposure and allowing families to follow the action in real time.

The results speak for themselves, several learners who began in HSEL have since joined professional teams, with players as young as 15 to 17 years-old already being scouted by top South African organisations.

“The HSEL has become one of the most exciting spaces for youth development in South Africa,” says Johann von Backström, Senior Manager: Content and Gaming at Telkom VS Gaming. “It’s about more than competition. It’s about helping learners build confidence, teamwork, and a sense of purpose through gaming.”

As esports grows within schools, it’s also beginning to spill over beyond the classroom. Squad Up Saturdays, made possible by Samsung and hosted at Design Quarter, turns that same team spirit into a shared, in person experience.

These monthly events invite learners, schools, parents, and gaming community fans to spend a day at the Samsung Design Quarter Experience Store DQX in Fourways, immersed in gaming culture. Visitors can watch HSEL matches live, join friendly tournaments, and experience how gaming builds confidence and community in a fun, family-friendly space.

“Squad Up Saturdays is about connection. Its where schools, parents, and learners can experience what esports is all about, teamwork, energy, and fun,” added Bronwyn Hume, Samsung Head of Marketing, Consumer Electronics.

Whether you’re a first-time player, a curious parent, or a passionate supporter, Squad Up Saturdays offer a welcoming space to play, learn, and be part of South Africa’s growing gaming community.

For information on how to participate, visit Squad Up Saturdays.