10 Feb 2019

Orange Botswana and Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) have collaborated to connect broadband Internet to 18 villages in Mabutsane Sub-district through the Universal Access and Services Fund (UASF).

The project, which was launched in Mabutsane recently, also entails computerisation of primary schools, upgrading of telecommunications networks to high speed capacities of 3G and 4G as well as employment of IT officers in all primary schools.

Officially launching the programme, Assistant Minister of Basic Education, Mr Thato Kwerepe, commended Orange Botswana and its partners for the  initiative whose target market was largely made of young people.

He said the project would enable them to participate effectively in the global economy and also change lives.

He said government was committed to improving broadband internet throughout the country through the National Broadband Strategy.

Mr Kwerepe said the strategy aimed at ensuring that 90 per cent of the population had access to high speed broadband internet connectivity to enable services such as video streaming and research, among other things.

“In his inaugural speech, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi made a commitment to promote digitisation so as to ensure the availability of information in order to expedite decision-making service delivery, as well as to grow the domestic ICT sector and create jobs for the youth,” he said.

Therefore, Mr Kwerepe said, the country aspired to connect every citizen and community to a quality yet affordable high speed broadband internet.

However, he noted that even though his ministry was committed to ensuring that all primary schools were conducive for the 21st century learner, the project was not smooth sailing because most primary schools were not designed to accommodate ICT learning.

He therefore underscored the need for mindset change to align the schools with international standards of an ICT-driven curriculum.

For his part, Orange Botswana CEO, Dr Patrick Benon, said the project was not smooth sailing since some villages did not have power. 

Nonetheless, he said they partnered with other stakeholders to ensure success of the project.

He also said they recently developed the first ever digital educational programme in Botswana, which was accessible through laptops and tablets.

Dr Benon applauded government for spearheading the programme, which would go a long way in promoting ICT in schools.

BOCRA board chairman, Major General Bakwena Oitsile attributed the success of the project to dedication and teamwork between the collaborating partners.

He said such developments would transform children within those communities and make them compete with others in major towns and villages. ENDS