18 Oct 2023

Batswana have spoken and government not only listened but granted them their wish, SmartBots Village Connectivity project.

The project allows Batswana to connect with the rest of the world at no charge using high speed internet. This is where Botswana is, totally connected.

Launched yesterday in Maun by President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, SmartBots promises limitless opportunities for Batswana across all sectors of the economy.

However, with every development, there is bound to be misuse but President Masisi cautioned users to exercise some level of responsibility, for the service to be impactful.

But to what extent do Batswana understand what SmartBots stands for and does it benefit them? Internet usage at Bobirwa Junior Secondary School has significantly gone up, thanks to SmartBots coverage at the government institution of learning.

Not only has internet usage skyrocketed, tapping into SmartBots could see Bobirwa JSS results improving drastically, information and technology teacher Mr Topo Tidimane said in an interview with Manowe Motsaathebe post SmartBots village connectivity launch at Bobonong kgotla.

“I think our JCE results stand to improve markedly looking at how we tap on SmartBots internet for educational purposes,” said Mr Tidimane.

Mr Tidimane said tabs at school were highly utilised by both learners and teachers so much that ‘we run out of time to recharge them.’ Pupils too have lauded SmartBots for helping simplify educational researches. “We use SmartBots on school gadgets to source information on virtually everything,” said Carol Marumo of Bobirwa JSS who revealed they had full access to the facility.

Another pupil, Ditebogo Sekgwama, said SmartBots helped during computer lessons adding, learners frequented computer lab for research on assignments.

Kabo Keaketswe in LETLHAKANE reports that a youth, Mr Kebatsaletswe Moeng reckoned the initiative would result in more employment opportunities for young people in the ICT field, some as software or application developers among others, while Kgosi Baruntshi Kegapetswe of Letlhakane encouraged Batswana, especially the youth, to use modern technology wisely and in a manner that would better their lives.

The launch of the project would reduce high migration rate of youth from villages to towns, is what Kgosi Benjamin Banyula of Rakops said when interviewed by Thandy Tebogo in RAKOPS.

He also said the facility was a smart move that would cut transport costs incurred by those who travelled to towns in search of services, as well as enhance access to information.

Mr Elijah Motsamai of Xhumo tied the initiative to Mindset Change saying, Batswana were now better positioned to understand what it meant as well as appreciate Botswana’s quest to exploit the opportunities that would arise from the 4th Industrial Revolution which talked about digital transformation.

In SELEBI PHIKWE Kgotsofalang Botsang reports that Mr Mookamedi Otsweleng, who regards himself as a beneficiary of the transformation, is hopeful that connection of internet in various public institutions would boost innovation and economic growth.

Government through SmartBots has closed the digital gap between the rich and poor, is Mr Otsweleng’s take regarding the facility.

Reception of the facility was also appreciated in PAJE where Tshiamiso Mosetlha reports that a Standard Five pupil at Paje Primary School, Junior Maphakwane said heavy loads of study material was now a thing of the past, while Laila Tshwene, a Standard Six pupil of the same school said studies had significantly improved.

Life is centred around internet use and thus all should strive to be a party to the village connectivity exercise is what Mr Alfred Tlhasenyane said when interviewed by Patricia Speakson in SEROWE.

He said with SmartBots, solutions to challenges people had been struggling with, were now at their fingertips. People will now be able to google instructions, recipes without paying another person to do it for them.

Ms Purply Kgomela, a teacher at Manonnye Primary School in Serowe said SmartBots had come in handy as they used it for research to enhance teaching. She said she joined the school in 2022 and found SmartBots already in full use.

A Standard Six learner at Manonnye primary, Ale Thebe said on days when she had no internet at home, she walked to school to access free internet.

What I like most about the idea is that one can teach more classes at the same time, so no learners are left behind when a teacher is absent, Ms Mary Omphile, a Standard Two teacher at Mogorosi Primary said when interviewed by Phodiso Gabepe in MOIYABANA.

In MAHALAPYE, Gaone Fati reports that Ms Felicity Bosekeng, a teacher at Tamocha primary said benchmarking with other schools had become easy and so had communication with parents, regarding pupils’ school work. ENDS