Equal learning opportunities for everyone
Paratus, together with Interactive Audio Visual Solutions, is planning to blaze an e-learning trail through Africa by connecting schools and teachers in rural areas to the learning content they need to be equally equipped to excel in their exams and school rankings.Paratus Zambia, which is participating at the Innovation Africa event this week, is keen to attract joint sponsors to make what the Paratus Group has achieved in Namibia a reality in Zambia. Interactive Audio Visual Solutions, together with Paratus, aims to replicate the work that the Namibian NGO, EduVision, has achieved in Namibia where many thousands of learners have benefited from receiving its online e-learning programme.
The Paratus Group has provided both satellite equipment and infrastructure, technical support, consulting, and capital to help EduVision deliver online e-learning to more rural schools throughout Namibia.
EduVision provides remote and underserved schools with access to first-class teaching via digital interactive platforms.
“Without a stable and secure internet connection, this type of e-learning is simply not possible,” explains Barney Harmse, Executive Chairman of the Paratus Group. “Providing connectivity to schools in under-served areas is an important part of the Paratus promise to transform Africa through exceptional digital infrastructure and customer service.”
Keeping connected
Since 2018, Paratus has been helping the Namibia NGO, EduVision to connect numerous schools and over 10 000 learners directly. Indirectly, thousands of additional learners benefit from the learning materials received online. The Paratus Group in Namibia already pledged and is busy installing a total of 50 satellite connections as EduVision signs up more and more rural schools.
One example of a school that improved greatly because of the EduVision program was Tsumkwe. Since being connected to the programme in 2018, the school boosted its rankings due to the overall improvement of its students’ results; jumped a massive 149 places, from number 183 in 2018 to number 34 in 2020 (incl. private schools); and increased its public-school ranking from number 59 in 2019 to number 14 in 2020.
A learner from the Waterberg Junior Secondary School said: “Comparing the pace at which we were learning then and now, EduVision has not only accelerated the learning and teaching process but also improved our knowledge and understanding.”
Helping to advance education through connectivity is one of the Paratus Group’s key focus areas under its Paratus Social Investments initiative (PSI). For example, when Paratus has approval from municipalities to install fibre networks in Namibia, the company automatically lays fibre to any schools en route at their own cost, so that these schools and areas may take advantage of the Paratus high-quality connection infrastructure.
Harmse adds: “E-Learning is a beacon of educational light because it is providing online teaching not only to students but also gives the most technologically effective and efficient teaching tools and skills to schools, no matter how remote they are. We hope we can bring this to bear in Zambia.”