MTN donates ICT lab and school uniforms

 

The department of education in partnership with giant cell phone network provider MTN, handed over an Information Communication Technology laboratory to Emang Mmogo Comprehensive School recently. The internet connected lab is fitted with 22 desktops, 1 laptop for the educator and an electronic white board.

The partnership was mediated by Gloria Petersen of Makabelo Trading Enterprise; she negotiated the sponsor on behalf of the department. Apart from the exclusive lab handover MTN also donated 670 school shoes, to which 468 remained at Emang Mmogo meanwhile Bongani Primary School received 202 pairs, as that was not enough,  50 bicycles were also  donated to the needy learners of   Motswedi Thuto Primary who walk long distances to school, the school is in Pampierstad.

Already 4 schools in the province have already benefited from the similar initiative meanwhile 6 schools will be connected in the year 2015. The newly donated lab is set to improve the standard of research while it will also bring excitement during the learning and teaching.  Meanwhile learners will find warm comfort in the shoes donated this winter.

Speaking during the handover the late MEC for education Grizelda Cjiekela-Lecholo said the lab will not only benefit  learners but it will also come in handy for educators.  She also indicated that access to educational information is very essential to all the learners.

“Research has shown that learners with access to integrated learning tools including library, computers and reading resources demonstrate higher achievement, improved literacy and greater chances of success.

The mobile computer model will ensure learning can take place anywhere thereby assisting in expanding access to meet educational needs of our learners and their teachers”, Cjiekella said.  Speaking on the Buffalo bicycles MEC said this will eventually curb the long distance that learners travel to schools and will also reduce the level of fatigue which in the end compromise the level of concentration from the learners.

Emang Mmogo principal Peter Raadt said the Information Technology integration plays a vital role during the researches, “We are very delighted as the school to have benefitted from this initiative, this will assist our learners given the fact that there are new computer software such as HeyMath and HeyScience, the lab is just a motivation on its own”, Raadt said.

MTN general manager Kusile Muthunzi-Hairwadzi said as a company they carry a social responsibility to uplift the community, “From MTN we really don’t see this as a donation but an investment which will benefit the country in the long run, so we are encouraging learners to use these facilities wisely for their own benefit, we are proud to announce that there are more schools from this province that are still going to benefit from this partnership”, Muthunzi-Hairwadzi said.