12 Dec 2016

Batswana have been advised to utilise Sesigo basic computer skills programme offered at Botswana National Library Services around the country.

Gaborone public library senior liberian, Ms Makhebe Segwati applead to graduates during Sisego’s basic computer participants graduation in Gaborone recently.

During the occasion, 126 participants graduated after undertaking a six-week training.

Sesigo is a computer programme sponsored by government in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with the aim of equipping Batswana on how to use computers.

Ms Makhebe highlighted the importance of being computer literate as she explained that in this age where everything was technology advanced, there was need for every citizen to at least have basic computer skills.

“Every citizen whether old or young need to be computer competence, regardless of their status therefore it is important to utilise programme like Sisego,” she said.

Ms Makhebe said computer literacy helps in so many ways for youth as it could help them do their research in the internet and create employment for them,
For the senior citizens, she noted that it would raise awareness in so many professions of their interest.

With regard to the graduating batch, she said it was an opener over the past six-week with the participants who had gone through training.

Meanwhile, Ms Makhebe has stated that they had encountered several challenges regarding the participants.

She said they had participants from all walks of life.

She said they had learnt that there were some  companies, which were reluctant to release their employees to attend classes; hence a draw back for some participants.

She appealed to companies to release their employees because the programme could also benefit them since their employees were trained for free.

One of the participants had described his graduation as a milestone for him.

Fifty-two-year-old, Mr Joseph Molale expressed delight saying the training comes as two way blessing for him.

As a business man, Mr Molale explained that he was now able to use computer applications that enabled him to care for his finances.

Furthermore, he added that since attending the lessons, he was able to buy himself a laptop, which enabled him to access internet services.

“I have saved a lot of money and time since learning on how to use a computer. Now instead of going to internet cafés, I just use my computer and I can do my finances using Microsoft excel application,” he said.

Mr Molale advised people to make use of the programme and take advantage it since it was offered free.

He said it was capable of changing people’s lives.ENDS