22 Jul 2026

Teaching children information and communication technology (ICT) from an early age is one of the best ways to prepare them for a digital future, First Lady Kaone Boko has said.

Ms Boko made the remarks  recently during the handover of a fully furnished digital centre worth more than P1.5 million at Sankoyo Primary School.

 She said the initiative would help bridge the rural digital divide by providing internet access and digital literacy training to learners and the wider community.

The digital centre, established by the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), is equipped with 30 laptops, internet connectivity, an interactive smart board, chairs, tables and a printer. It is intended to enhance the learning experience by equipping students with essential digital skills.

Ms Boko commended BOCRA for the generous donation, saying early exposure to ICT would ensure that children did not fall behind in a knowledge-based economy. She said digital skills were essential for lifelong learning and praised the authority for its continued efforts to promote digital inclusion by transforming education in rural communities.

She said BOCRA had demonstrated its commitment to the welfare of Batswana, particularly children, by exposing them to technology at an early age and ensuring that learners in rural areas were afforded the same opportunities as their urban counterparts.

“The pace at which BOCRA is transforming the country into a knowledge-based digital economy and assisting Batswana access technology is truly unmatched,” she said.

Ms Boko described education and knowledge as great equalisers that provide everyone with a fair chance to succeed in life, adding that digitalisation had become an equally powerful tool for breaking down traditional barriers and ensuring equal access to education and services.

She noted that internet connectivity had the potential to create equal opportunities, saying access to ICT enabled people to communicate globally and participate in the digital economy.

As technology continues to shape every aspect of life, Ms Boko appealed to parents to actively monitor their children's use of technology and educate them about both its benefits and potential risks.

She also applauded teachers for their dedication, acknowledging that nurturing and educating children was no easy task as they continue to defy the odds by imparting knowledge and developing learners into responsible citizens.

Ms Boko further appealed to women from Shorobe, Sankoyo, Mababe and Khwai to support her Mpepu initiative, which promotes positive parenting and aims to strengthen families while protecting children.

She said the initiative was built on Botswana's cultural values of care and support and urged women to take a leading role in ensuring its success.

Acting North West Regional Education Director, Ms Chidzani Lempadi, also welcomed the donation, saying the digital centre and its equipment would significantly improve teaching and learning at Sankoyo Primary School.

She said the facility would help learners acquire critical 21st-century skills, noting that Sankoyo Primary School was already among the region's top-performing schools and expressing confidence that the new digital resources would further improve academic performance.

Ms Lempadi added that the centre would also support teachers' professional development by enabling them to adopt more interactive and innovative teaching methods.

"We expect teachers to make learning more enjoyable and experiential, as learners will now be able to conduct research and connect with the world beyond Gaborone. These gadgets will help close the gaps that many young people face," she said, while commending BOCRA for its support. ENDS