09 Apr 2014

Information and communication technologies (ICT) play a vital role in transforming education development as well as increasing and spreading knowledge to a wide section of the population.

Speaking during the official launch of Thuto-Net Governance Structure, Secretary of Education Reforms, Ms Taboka Nkhwa, who officiated on behalf of Minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi said for Botswana to make any appreciable progress in its socio-economic development efforts, substantial resources will need to be directed at improving educational delivery.

The launch of Thuto-Net governance structure provided both the agenda for change and a platform for a coordinated delivery of ICT’S within the education system. Ms Nkhwa said this structure was a critical component of the education and training sector strategies plan (ETSSP).

She said its implementation structure was primarily set to ensure the education sector provided adequate opportunities for all learners to develop the necessary skills and knowledge needed to be active participants in the global economy.

International experience from both developed and developing countries have shown that ICT has an enormous potential for knowledge dissemination, knowledge acquisition, effective e-learning and the development of more efficient education services, said Ms Nkhwa.

Ms Nkhwa said in 2007, Maitlamo policy was approved for its clear benefits for driving the country’s social, economic, cultural and political transformation towards national development, through the effective use of ICT’s.

She acknowledged the policy would benefit the country as it creates an enabling environment for the growth of an ICT industry suitable to provide universal service and access to information and communication facilities in the country, making it a regional ICT Hub that will ensure the country’s service sector competes globally as there would be an increase in accessibility to relevant, localised and understandable information for all citizens.

Ms Nkhwa said significant progress has been made as witnessed by the introduction of Kitsong Centres in villages, connection to east and west internet cables, the growth of e-government and the availability of more services online.

Furthermore, “in education we have also made progress with the introduction of computer laboratories in all Junior and Senior secondary schools and also the use of computers in administration and some practical subjects such as Art and Design and Technology” said Ms Nkhwa.

She also said there had been great support for technology in schools from the private sector, mostly through the Adopt a School Programme. Many primary schools have received computers and related technologies. “These initiatives have seen our youngest learner access technology for the first time” she said.

Through partnerships with leading technology companies, many teachers were trained in the use and infusion of ITC’s in teaching and learning. “Some of our graduate teachers are computer literate and have become champions of change in their schools” she said.

However, Ms Nkhwa said the urgency to increase access to ICT’s in schools, and the need to roll out ICT’S to all levels of the education system still hampers their aspirations in making ICT’s a platform for learning. Ends