12 Nov 2014

The Information Communication Technology (ICT) hub launched at Moremi III Memorial School in Maun is hoped to take education to a greater stage.

Speaking during the launching of the ICT Hub in Maun on November 11, the Botswana Fibre Networks (BoFINET) chief executive officer (CEO) Mr Mabua Mabua said the Internet Hub with 20 computers had internet connection to equip teachers and students

The internet hub, he said was in compliance with one of the Maitlamo ICT Policy pillars of e-Education that defined the framework for the use of ICT in delivering lifelong education and learning.

Mr Mabua noted that the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) welcomed Private and Public Partnerships (PPPs) to achieve the three pillars of Maitlamo ICT policy of Infrastructure (ThutoNet), capacity building and curriculum development.

The British Council donated the 20 computers through the Connecting Classroom global project, provided the infrastructure and trained the teachers on global teachers and online training, a partnership he said was worth commending.

“The computers will act as a switch for schools in Botswana to partner with other schools in Africa and Europe,” he said

Mr Mabua said learners will benefit through this partnership because they can learn about other people’s culture through the use of internet.

He observed that ICT also gave teachers and students an opportunity to conduct independent research and provided students with online teachers across the world.

Mr Mabua said the ICT Hub was a result of MoESD and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in partnership with British Council to set up one ICT Hub per region towards realization of quality education through ICTs.

The Chief Education Officer- Basic Education, Ms Rapelang Bogatsu said Moremi was the 5th school to have an ICT Hub in the country.Ms Bogatsu said the Connecting Classrooms global project was a partnership between United Kingdom (UK) and Sub Saharan countries.

She said so far 121 partnerships have been formed between over 1000 schools since the project was incepted in 2006 in 20 Sub Saharan countries.

Ms Bogatsu pointed that the project, which started in Botswana in 2007 in a partnership between MoESD and British Council aimed to enable young people to develop skills, appreciate other countries and cultures as well as create opportunities for young people globally. ENDS