Today (Tuesday), the company launched the programme in conjunction with the Department of Basic Education, Microsoft, Cisco and Mindset Learn in a move that will pave the way to improve education in schools.
The use of mobile technology would provide teachers throughout South Africa with better access to quality instruction resources and ICT. Vodacom senior official hailed the investment.
“This launch is perhaps one of the most important initiatives that we have introduced. It involves a significant investment in our youth, who are the future of our country, and is a critical component of our commitment to using mobiles for good. Through this initiative, teachers will now be able to use cloud computing to access vital content, teacher-aids and resources to help deliver quality education,” said Pieter Uys, Vodacom’s CEO.
Vodacom and the Department of Basic Education have, as part of this launch, created nine ICT Resource Centres, one in every province, each serving up to 200 schools.
The centres serve as the district teacher-training hub and are outfitted with computer classrooms with 50 terminals and an Internet Café.
The ICT Resource Centres are connected through Virtual Private Network (VPN) to Vodacom’s head office in Midrand.
The connection serves as a pipeline of information, connecting the centres, participating schools and teachers to the Internet and to valuable teacher training resources.
Training will focus on ICT literacy, as well as the effective use and integration of digital content in the classroom.
To support these training, educators are provided with the necessary ICT infrastructure and tools.
Microsoft will be supplying its Partners in Learning teacher professional development curriculum software and Microsoft certification for teachers and the public.
Cisco is providing computer technician certification and entrepreneurship training through its Cisco Networking Academy programme and Mindset Learn has made the South African educational curriculum content available throughout the programme.
Vodacom has, over the past decade, invested more than R660 million in education, health and security in South Africa where it is headquartered.– Techno Africa
Post published in: Africa News