A step in the right direction

The Monitor Editor | Tuesday August 16, 2022 06:00

That is indeed a welcome development, especially looking at the fact that the manual way of doing things is slowly disappearing and competency in the use of computers and other digital gadgets has become a must.

The simple way of looking at it is just an example that almost all companies have gone completely digital and school leavers will be better placed after leaving school, because they will already be familiar with the use of computers.

The roll-out in schools will improve our education system, and of course, all children will have access to educational material equally, which is something we have been striving for as a society. Currently, our systems put a huge gap between the haves and have-nots, as children from less fortunate families struggle to get reading materials, while those from middle to high-class families have access to additional learning materials because their parents can afford to buy them tablets and laptops.

This project will of course bridge the gap, and ensure that all our students have access to learning and additional material at their fingertips. Our schools have for the longest time been struggling with acute shortage of learning material, to a point that some schools out of frustration and running out of options have gone as far as asking parents to print material for their children, and while some would be able to do so with ease, there are some who would not be able to print even a single page of the much-needed learning material.

“My ministry is moving with speed to embrace the opportunities offered by digitalisation. As I speak today, laptop devices are being delivered to senior secondary schools across the country.

Every teacher and every learner in every senior secondary school will be issued with a laptop beginning next term. The devices are distinctively colour-coded Botswana blue and installed with a security tracking system and a remote cut-off mechanism to render them unusable should they fall into the wrong hands. These laptops will remain the property of the school and will be returned to the school upon the departure of the teacher or learner.

However, as the laptops will contain much of the students' work, notes, assignments and reading material, learners will be expected to carry these devices with them at all times as their principal learning tool,” Minister Letsholathebe told Parliament.

Teachers, parents, and other stakeholders will have to work hand-in-hand to give learners tips on how to do research that will benefit their learning. We salute the government for finally realising the need to move with the times and prepare learners for life after studies.