28 Nov 2021

Orange Botswana has donated digital devices to Molebatsi Primary School in Majwaneng through the company’s Orange Digital Schools project which aims to reduce the digital gap between schools in urban and rural areas.

“The rollout could not have come at an opportune moment, particularly at the time our nation is faced with a myriad of challenges in the aftermath of the devastating effects of COVID-19 pandemic,” said the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Setlhabelo Modukanele during the donation in Majwaneng Friday.

Donated digital devices include 50 tablets, 50 headsets, two raspberry servers, a Bluetooth speaker, laptop, projector, projector screen and sanitisers.

Mr Modukanele commended Orange Botswana for the noble gesture, saying it was a testament of effective partnership between government and the private sector.

“This is going to have a multiple effect in our journey of digital inclusion.

It will also bring the much-needed change within our education system, because we certainly do not want to be left behind as we want to be part of the digital world,” he added.

Mr Modukanele, who is also Lerala/Maunatlala MP, said Orange Digital Schools project was also in line with President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s roadmap to transform the nation beyond COVID-19 pandemic through the Reset Agenda.

He, therefore, encouraged other businesses to emulate Orange Botswana and play a meaningful role towards improvement of the country’s education system.

Orange Botswana Corporate and Legal Affairs director, Ms Lepata Mafa-Nthomola said since inception of the project, Orange Botswana had donated digital devices to 41 schools, across the country to impart digital skills to learners in rural primary schools and improve learning.

“Our concern is to reduce the digital gap between the schools in Gaborone or in areas where they have advanced infrastructures and schools in rural areas.
So, the need to reduce that gap gave birth to our Orange Digital School project,” she explained.

The project, she said encompassed donation of digital devices, development of e-content, as well as training learners and teachers on how to use the devices for learning and teaching.

Through the two donated servers, Ms Mafa-Nthomola said the pupils would be able to use the tablets to access e-content, adding that the school, therefore, did not need to be connected to Internet or Wi-Fi, as the servers had their own inbuilt Wi-Fi.

Ministry of Basic Education deputy director for Central Region Mr Otukile Kedikilwe thanked Orange Botswana for the donation saying it would go a long way in helping government achieve its objective of transforming the country’s economy from a resource based to a knowledge based economy.

“This will also help our students to improve their research and networking skills, as it now shows that we are in the right track of producing a globally competitive human resource,” he said.

He said because of the COVID-19 pandemic, ICT was the solution to ensure continuous learning or access to education by all learners.

In his vote of thanks, Ratholo/Majwaneng councillor, Mr Daniel Ookame applauded Orange Botswana for the donation and encouraged pupils and teachers to take good care of the devices. ENDS