21 Oct 2015

Botswana Fibre Network (BoFiNet) has connected Junior secondary schools of Moshupa, Thamaga and Ramotswa including the Centre for the Deaf to its fibre network for ease access of fast broadband Internet.

The main objective of scaling up Internet connectivity in the society is to improve access to information.

Speaking during the launch of the initiative at Thamaga Junior Secondary School, Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo commended BoFiNet staff for their noble gesture.

He said BoFiNet has not only equipped the learners with ICT knowledge, but has given them a chance to experience an interesting platform for learning.  He said such is a worthy investment, which will in future produce higher quality of human capital and boost productivity.

Minister Mabeo underscored the importance of exposing young people to new communication technologies that are brought about by the use of Internet. 

He highlighted the fact that in order to remain economically competitive in an increasingly globalised world, government needs to support the curriculum for the current job market that require IT accustomed graduates at various levels, hence it is ideal to consider where future employment demand would come from and the skills school leavers would need to compete in a world that has been transformed by technology.

He further pointed out that efforts such as BoFiNet’s were  a positive step in empowering the youth so that they could be competitive in identifying economic opportunities and creating the much needed jobs in an innovative manner.

Minister Mabeo also noted that BoFiNet’s service to the schools would not only improve the learners’ academic excellence, but it would also elevate them to levels of their counterparts in fairly advanced institutions such as private secondary schools.

While government acknowledges challenges brought about by modern technologies, the minister has appealed to both teachers and pupils to guard against misuse of the equipment. 

He encouraged them to use such technology for the benefit of their stay in school and not for activities that would  lead to moral degeneration.

For his part, Thamaga JSS head, Mr Pashaka Nnoane thanked BoFiNet for considering his school for such a noble gesture. He said Internet connectivity has come at the right time when teachers needed it the most to ease their job. 

He said it was important for everyone to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the World Wide Web and better themselves as everyone could now use the web to study and research.

BoFiNet also donated ten computers to Thamaga JSS and connected them to the Internet. This donation was part of a community service day initiative hosted by BoFiNet in the ministry of Transport and Communication. 

Every month various organs of the ministry host a community service day, during which they donate time, labour and ideas, tangible or even non-tangible goods to make a difference in the communities they serve. Ends