Africa-Press – Botswana. Kgari Sechele Senior Secondary School has recently received over 1 800 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) gadgets.
The ICT gadgets, which comprise about 1 731 laptops for learners and 140 for teachers, are part of the batch that the Ministry of Education and Skills Development had bought, through Botswana Communication Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), for all senior secondary schools in the country worth over P230 million.
Speaking at the handover ceremony Wednesday, Minister for State President, also Member of Parliament for Molepolole South, Mr Kabo Morwaeng said the gadgets demonstrated the high value that government attached to education as a cornerstone for digitisation.
“These gadgets will go a long way in bridging the digital divide in the lives of our children. They will also ensure that learners are equipped and capacitated to achieve global education standards as well as that knowledge-based economy is achieved,” Mr Morwaeng said.
He added that used alongside smart boards, the gadgets would make it easier for learners to participate and learn in real time alongside a virtual class taking place in any part of the world, something he said confirmed that the world was indeed becoming a global village.
Moreover, he emphasised that digitisation as envisioned by the President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, was now being realised as part of the governing party’s electoral commitment and promise.
For his part, BOCRA chief executive officer, Mr Martin Mokgware explained that government through the education ministry, had disbursed P230 million to BOCRA to source tablets for Form Four and Five learners to use as e-books.
Kgosi Kgari III also appreciated government’s efforts for committing to adapt to changes brought about by digitisation and ensuring that no one was left behind.
He said such changes would propel learners to adjust to the digital world and catch up with the rest of the global village, which would in turn have positive impact on their lives and future.
He therefore urged learners to take proper care of the gadgets and use them efficiently.
Receiving the gadgets, the school head, Ms Mosa kebobone, also appreciated government’s efforts and contribution to the education sector.
“The gadgets arrive at a time when they are most needed since we have committed to compete with other excelling schools in the country,” she said, adding the gadgets therefore had a potential to unlock productivity and improve performance.
Again, she said the devices would also assist them with various projects such as tracking learners’ performance as well as their presence, among many other things.
While Kgari Sechele had been, in the past, ranked among the worst performing schools, Ms Kebobone indicated that the school’s performance had, in the last two years, greatly improved and was adamant that this year, they would be counted among the top performing schools.
Furthermore, she indicated that learners’ behaviour and parental involvement had also improved significantly, hence the improvement in the school’s performance as compared to the previous years.
On behalf of learners, Kealeboga Modise, who is doing Form Five, thanked government for its efforts to improve learning through digitisation.
“I believe that if we use the devices wisely, our performance as well as productivity in the country would greatly improve,” Modise said.
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