Ministry of Basic Education spreads ICT skills education

The Ministry of Basic Education wants to introduce ICT tools to as many government schools across the country as possible. The aim is to produce digitally agile learners who are able to learn and collaborate in the digital world. Minister of Basic education Bagalatia Arone and Microsoft General Manager Harb Bou Harb recently tested model ICT schools projects scenarios at Borwa Junior Secondary School in Bokaa. The initiative will adopt Microsoft Office 365 Platform called Tutonet.ac.bw. According to the ministry, the platform will also enable teachers, students and staff to use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, One Note, Teams One Drive, Skype for Business and SharePoint. “They will also use some educational applications to develop digital skills as well as create learning communities. Students will also be able to access information from personal and school devices.” Ministry of Basic Education’s Public Relations Officer Gorata Mokalaba told The Midweek Sun that the plan was to pilot with four schools by end of November following the rollout of Microsoft Office 365 in those schools. “We have managed to set up and trial with Borwa JSS in the Kgatleng Region. Next will be Mmadinare Senior, Shakawe Senior, Mogoditshane Senior, Kang Primary and Kgari Sechele Senior in that order. “The 16 remaining schools should be done in a period of 6 months to be ready for rollout before the African Innovation Expo to be hosted by Botswana in June - July 2019. The composition of the 20 schools will be 7 primary, 7 junior 6 senior secondary schools to make 20,” she noted. Mokalaba said that there was no particular criterion used to select the schools, as the process was random. “We randomly selected schools across regions depending on schools’ readiness in terms of infrastructure that includes availability of electricity, Internet connectivity, security and teachers competences in integrating ICT into teaching and learning.” Mokalaba also explained that all the secondary schools have computer labs and subject specific computer laboratories that are fairly resourced. “The schools are connected to the Government Data Network (GDN) for internet access. Teachers continue to be capacitated in ICT integration in teaching and learning. Internet service providers are also assisting the Ministry with provision of Wi-Fi in the schools. Any development should start with capacity building, therefore teachers have been and continue to be capacitated in order to build their competence to integrate ICT in teaching and learning.”