21 Aug 2025

Botswana’s BrainSTREAM Institute of Technology team has just returned from a Robotics & Coding Holiday Camp in South Africa where they hosted more than 200 learners from over 100 schools.

The initiative introduced children aged 6-14 years to robotics, coding, artificial intelligence, animation and drone technology. Head of Education at BrainSTREAM, Mr Mohit Lohani said the camps were more than just technology lessons.

“This is not just about teaching technology, it is about nurturing curiosity, creativity and critical thinking. We want every child to feel they can be an inventor, a coder or a problem solver,” he said.

He noted that interest generated in Durban was overwhelming that a second camp had to be scheduled immediately. Mr Lohani also mentioned that learners with special needs participated fully, showing that technology-driven learning could be inclusive and empowering.

The programme tour included Hillcrest Primary School in Durban, Education Evolution Academy in Johannesburg, Morning Star Academy in Vryburg, Aborvitae Academy in Benoni and Pink & Blue Preparatory in Pongola. He said the initiative was also endorsed by the Gauteng District Education Department, which praised its alignment with South Africa’s digital skills and youth empowerment goals.

Mr Lohani said what made the event significant was that it was led by a Botswana-grown institution. He said so far, more than 80 teachers had been trained through the Human Resource Development Council accredited STEM & Robotics Educators Certification Course, with another 30 set to join in August.

“Most of these teachers are already running robotics and coding programmes in schools across Botswana and the region,” he said. 

He further said the success in South Africa was only the beginning, as BrainSTREAM would launch Robotics & Coding Camps in Harare, Zimbabwe, later this month in partnership with Eastern Heights Junior School. However, Mr Lohani said while neighbouring countries were embracing Botswana’s innovation, uptake at home had been slower.

“If our teachers are not trained and supported, implementing Robotics and Coding across schools will face critical delays,” he said, adding that local institutional support was needed.

With the right backing, he said, Botswana’s classrooms could also become hubs of innovation, preparing the next generation of problem-solvers for Africa and the world. ENDS