03 Aug 2017

Primary, junior and senior schools from across the country recently held the first national ICT Fair in Molepolole under the theme: “ICT for sustainable innovation in the classroom”.

Officiating at the two day fair, chief executive officer of the Human Resource Development Council Dr Raphael Dingalo challenged the students to be creative in coming up with innovations that could drive the socio-economic development of the country. He said they should come up with innovations that are internationally recognised to put their country on the road to prosperity.

He explained that the government of Botswana is engaged in promoting the use of ICT in teaching and learning as well as the development of ICT infrastructure in schools.

He also said the Human Resource Council through its ICT sector committee has assisted with funds in excess of P1.4 million geared towards the development of digital content for schools.

He said the funds will assist the government to see increased access, utilisation and integration of ICT to improve teaching and learning.

Giving an overview of ICT in education and infusion in schools, Mr Leonard Puso said ICT has transformed teaching and learning of the 21st century to a great extent, giving examples of audio and video lectures as things that never existed back then that could be used especially when teachers are not in.

He further said the revised national policy in education of 1994 has laid a foundation for ICT integration in teaching, learning and educational management.

He said implementation of this policy has resulted in establishment of resource rooms at primary schools and computer laboratories at secondary schools equipped with computers and other ICT related equipment, professional development of teachers.

Mr puso further said ICT in schools has now been formalised by development of a syllabi at secondary schools and all learners are now required to take a basic computer awareness course.

For her part, one of the student participant Ame Direnyane of Madiba Senior School in an interview said she is appreciative of the government for the implementation of ICT in their curriculum as that has really opened her eyes and made her appreciate the use of social media academically.

She said through ICT they can now engage in tutorial groups and do revisions through whatsapp groups.

Meanwhile, 27 junior, three senior and three junior schools took part in the fair mostly from Central and northern districts.

The fair bring together ICT students from public schools and creates an opportunity for participants to share knowledge, experiences and compete against each other in the use of ICT. ENDS