As the country thrives to reach digital inclusion in all corners of the country, The Orange Foundation, through its mother company recently handed over its 60th donation of ICT equipment to Moreomaoto Primary School in the

North-West district. Orange Foundation aims to bridge the existing digital divide in remote communities by championing innovation and investment. According to Orange the equipment donated will enhance and assist the learners of the primary school by giving them access to the opportunities and educational enrichment available through digital technology.

The donation, Orange believes will further help facilitate the operations of the school, providing the much-needed enhancement to the existing ICT equipment used by the school.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Director of Corporate Affairs and Chief Compliance Officer at Orange, Lepata Mafa-Nthomola reiterated that as the Government of

Botswana is committed to ensuring that all children, irrespective of race, gender, ethnic background, or economic status, have access to a high-quality education Orange Botswana also recognises the importance of education for all citizens of Botswana.

“We have aligned all our efforts to promote quality education with the national Vision 2036 that emphasizes digital technology education and skills as a basis for human resource development. We are furthermore determined to play our part as a responsible corporate citizen in transforming and shaping Botswana’s technological future through various initiatives that promote education,” she said.

To achieve this, Orange Botswana signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Basic Education and Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in 2017, to kick start a pilot of the Digital school programme in 2018.

“The Digital Schools programme addresses issues of digital inclusion and digital equality. The programme aims to close the existing gaps created by digital inclusion through leveraging technology to improve access to education. In the past, villages such as Toromoja and Xere in Boteti have been beneficiaries of this programme which has seen the donation of ICT equipment, valued at more than P100,000. Today is a particularly special occasion as the Moreomaoto Primary School and community will benefit from the same programme, receiving digital equipment worth P100,000,” Mafa-Nthomola said.

To this end Orange Foundation donated 50 tablets, two raspberry pi web servers preloaded with content , 50 headphones, a projector and a projector screen and one laptop .

According to Mafa-Nthomola about 30, 000 students have benefitted from the Orange digital school’s programme. About 590 teachers have been trained in using digital kits as a mode of teaching whilst 59 schools having benefitted from the project since its inception. “We anticipate 86 schools to benefit from the programme in the year 2023 alone and are eager to keep extending the numbers to 100 by next year,” she added. For his part, area Member of Parliament and Vice President, Slumber Tsogwane expressed his gratitude to Orange. “We have seen the commitments and indeed impact of your strategy as a business as well as the social value and impact of the Orange Botswana Foundation through the Digital school programme which has been rolled out to 59 primary schools to date, Moreomaoto being the 60th school to benefit,” Tsogwane said.

The Vice President further stated that digital inclusion and digital access will positively impact the lives of Batswana. “Today’s handover is a testament to the important contributions made by organisations such as Orange Botswana. In that regard, Botswana can consider herself fortunate to have Orange Botswana as a partner not only to the economy, but most importantly to the investment that has been made towards the people of Botswana and to advancing their prosperity,” he added.

So far Orange Botswana has rolled out it’s digital school initiative to 62 primary schools and aims to reach 100 by the next year.