28 Nov 2022

As the world continues to advance and embrace technology, Absa Life Botswana has made it a mandate to ensure that schools and any learning institution become a part of the digital drive.

Absa Life Botswana’s intention is to be a digitally-led business that would be able to contribute to government’s strategic focus towards digitisation, hence its initiative to support and offer tools required to embrace the use of technology as it continued in its efforts to prioritise e-learning towards 2036 and beyond.

Absa Life Botswana therefore formed a relationship with Ketshwerebothata Primary School and Ramotswa community to advance the second pillar of the National Vision 2036 of human social development.

To stand to the pillar, Absa Life Botswana recently donated electronic gadgets which included an e-board, three printers and over 400 books from Sibilo Books.

In an interview, the school head, Ms Berlinah Kgwari appreciated their relationship with Absa Life Botswana which she said dated back to 2018, when the organisation first donated five wireless computers.

Ms Kgwari said the relationship continued in 2019 when Absa Life Botswana refurbished the school library, connected air conditioners, donated 40 chairs, seven tables and six shelves to be used in the library.

She added that in 2020, Absa Life Botswana donated personal protective equipment to the school which included four sanitiser stands, 40 five-litre sanitisers, masks for pupils as well as shield masks for teachers.

“We are happy that today Absa Life Botswana is back again with more gifts,” she said.

Ms Kgwari said the school consisted of over 600 pupils and 28 teachers with each stream comprised three classes.

“We wish to become a model school and we strive for greater heights in all we put our mind to. That is why at the beginning of this year we won the KIWI competition where we got 15 laptops, smartboard installation and one year free Internet,” she said.

Ms Kgwari added that their relationship with Absa Life Botswana had also seen the school pass rate increase each year.

For his part, Absa Life Botswana acting managing director, Mr Seabelo Wakgomo said they were committed to assisting community.

“We very much understand that the long-term sustainability of any community is dependent on combined efforts of all stakeholders. 

We are also passionate about education and our everyday effort is mainly focused on education and skills development and we do all we can to support the youth to find their feet,” Mr Wakgomo said.

One of the pupils, Thabang Selabe, also appreciated the gadgets, saying “they are not just a mere effort to encourage the use of technology, but a motivation to better our results, connect to the whole world and a gesture to help us embrace the electronic future.”

Meanwhile, education and health committee chairperson, Councillor Matshidiso Tlhoiwe said the electronic gadgets came at the right time and was hopeful that the recipients would use them for the intended purpose.

“I also believe that through these gadgets will help the school to produce more beautiful academic results,” she said. BOPA