MTN officials handing over a dummy Cheque to Mineduc officials at the launch of a campaign to equip 800 computer labs in technical schools Friday June 11
The newly established Rwanda Technical and Vocational Education and Training Board (RTB) says it targets establishing at least 800 computer laboratories or smart classrooms across the country to improve innovation and school digitization.
With 400 Technical and Vocational Education and Training schools (TVETs) nationwide, RTB targets to have two smart classrooms in each, to improve the practical learning, research, and innovation skills for students.
“For digitalization, we target at least 800 smart classrooms or computer labs in our schools. It is ambitious to achieve, but I am very confident that it’s achievable with strategic partnerships between the public and private sector,” Eng. Paul Umukunzi, Director General of RTB said.
Eng. Umukunzi said that for the usage, the internet connectivity will also continue to be installed in TVET schools with the continuous collaboration with partners.
Without mentioning the possible period and cost of achieving these targets, Eng. Paul Umukunzi said that the long journey has started with MTN Rwanda contributing Rwf 100 Million to establish ten (10) computer labs in ten schools.
The targets were revealed during the handover of the MTN’s contribution at the Ministry of Education offices in Kigali city, Friday 11.
“The digital future is no longer a far-fetching ambition. The time to make the crucial digital shift has arrived and as MTN, it is our vision to lead digital solutions for Rwanda’s progress,” said Mitwa Kaemba Ng’ambi, Chief Executive Officer at MTN Rwanda.
She said that this month, MTN Rwanda will be involved in diverse projects that are geared towards positively impacting communities in the areas of Economic Empowerment, Education, and Health.
The offer comes after the Ministry of Education accused several TVET schools of poor-quality education and closing twenty (20) in December last year.
“Incorporating technology in education is no longer a privilege but a necessity. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that this integration is now an urgent matter,” Claudette Irere, Minister of State in Charge of ICT and TVET said.
She said that MTN Rwanda’s contribution in fast-tracking this cannot go unnoticed and the contribution will enable the setup of 10 computer labs in different districts.
According to Irere, the distribution of smart classrooms will be just by analyzing schools without them. MTN Rwanda’s support comes as a bundled package, with the provision of free internet for a year in all 10 computer labs to further facilitate learning. Each smart classroom will be equipped with 20 computers.
