Vodacom and ICASA empower learners with ICT tools to kickoff 16th CRASA Conference

Vodacom is proud to be one of the sponsors of the 6TH CRASA Annual AGM, taking place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban this week. The CRASA AGM is hosted by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).

To kick off the conference on Sunday, Vodacom hosted the CRASA delegation at Umbilo Teacher Training Centre where Vodacom showcased its Vodacom Mobile Education offerings.

Vodacom Group, Chief Executive Officer, Takalani Netshitenzhe said: “Today is about demonstrating transformative power of technology through education; and The power of partnerships between government, private sector and civil society,” Netshitenzhe said: “The Vodacom Foundation spends about a R100 million annually to uplift the lives of South Africans. We do this through Education, Health, and Safety and Security projects in partnership with government. Our biggest investment is in education where we spend over R50m in a year.”

“In education we run projects mainly under the umbrella Vodacom Mobile Education through

the mobile education we provide quality education content with the department and other partners we

have Vodacom eschool, we contribute to skills development to ready young people for the digital society through our ICT youth Academy programme,’’ she said.

In order to address cost challenges associated with access to education and to provide Internet connectivity to previously disadvantaged schools, Vodacom has this year connected 40 schools in KZN with elearning solution laboratory.

Through this, Vodacom has provided the schools with 40 Galaxy Tab A devices, an eBeam (interactive device), a whiteboard, a laptop, a WiFi router, 40 Bay Trolleys, ebooks with content for Grade 10 Maths and Physics and connectivity with 2048 kbps for 12 months.

The elearning solution also offers free internet access to education content for learners in grades R -12 across the country. Learners who are Vodacom subscribers are able to access

curriculum aligned classroom content on their mobile devices across all major subjects for free.

Visit www.vodacom.co.za/e-school  for free online lessons with Vodacom e-school.

This intervention is an illustration of Vodacom’s core belief that ICT and mobile technology can be utilised to help improve and advance learning and address skills development in communities such as KwaMashu. The Vodacom eSchool portal, launched in January 2015 is a prime example of how Vodacom is contributing to society.

Through providing access to internet services and through promoting the digitisation of classrooms across our country, Vodacom is helping to uplift both learners and teachers in our schools.

Vodacom also offers Bursaries for students studying ICT and Engineering and Operations fields.

For all the details visit http://www.vodacom.com/about-us/foundation/bursaries

Applications for bursaries close 30 June.

Article by Fred Felton

Twitter @fredfelton