06 Nov 2023

Orange Botswana, through Orange Foundation has donated 25 tablets to Mafitlhakgosi Primary School in Tlokweng.

Receiving the gadgets on Friday, Member of Parliament and Minister of Communications, Knowledge, and Technology, Mr Thulagano Segokgo said the ICT equipment would provide a valuable opportunity for the young minds of Mafitlhakgosi school to actively participate in the digital age.

He said empowering Batswana at an early stage was crucial to ensure their active involvement in a digitally inclusive society.

He commended the collaborative effort between government and corporate entities such as Orange Botswana, highlighting how it drove advancement of digital technology towards the achievement of the national transformation vision.

Also, he said the donation showed commitment of both sectors to foster technological growth and enhanced educational opportunities for learners at the grassroots level.

“I wish to thank Orange Botswana for its continued commitment to the empowerment of Batswana as well as the social value and impact of their foundation through the digital school programme, which has benefitted many primary schools to date, with Mafitlhakgosi school being the 74^th,” said the minister.

Discussing the development of ICT in Botswana, he said government had prioritised the digital agenda on a national scale and had devised a digital transformation strategy to push the country’s growth in digital technology use, education, and access. 

“In today’s society, utilisation and accessibility of digital technology are no longer optional for enhancing productivity. Technology serves as an enabler and is crucial for our future,” he stated.

Orange Botswana chief executive officer, Ms Nene Maiga, said their efforts of transforming lives of learners through provision of tablets was noticeable as they had already made donations to 74 schools. 

She said Orange Botswana’s expertise in IT strove to bring about positive changes in the educational experiences of pupils.

She said technology was globally embraced, hence the necessity to equip the young with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in their studies. 

Ms Maiga explained that they had provided the school with two servers containing local syllabus content.

She highlighted that the initiative would enable the creation of more interactive and engaging lessons that catered for diverse learning styles.  Ms Maiga emphasised that Orange Botswana believed in the power of technology to enhance education and ensure equal opportunities for all learners.

“We have also collaborated with local companies to digitise this curriculum,” she added.

Ms Maiga expressed her belief that such a collaboration would contribute to improving the overall educational success and fundamental skills of school children. 

“As we stand on the threshold of a new age, where information is at our fingertips and the ability to navigate digital landscapes is paramount, it is our responsibility to equip young minds with the skills and knowledge necessary for them to thrive,” she said.

She said the skills were not only essential for academic success, but were the building blocks of the future workforce, where adaptability and digital fluency were prised assets. 

Orange Digital School Programme, she said, was one of the initiatives embedded in their digital inclusion strategy. Ends