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.
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.
Applications for bursaries close 30
June.
Article by Fred Felton
Twitter @fredfelton
