Equal opportunities for rural schools
Paratus executive chairman, Barney Harmse, gave a presentation on the effectiveness of the EduVision programme to the members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information, Communication, Technology, and Innovation earlier this week.To date, the Paratus Group has pledged over N$2 million worth of 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,” Harmse said. “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.”
Since 2018, Paratus has helped EduVision connect numerous schools and over 10 000 learners directly. Indirectly, thousands of additional learners benefit from the learning materials received online. More schools to be connected in the coming weeks are at Sesfontein, Tses, and Schlip – which are being sponsored by the Gondwana Care Trust. “Our pledge is to supply and install 50 satellite connections as EduVision signs up more and more rural schools.”
Help along the way
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 an area, the company automatically lays fibre to any schools en route at their own cost, so that these schools and areas may take advantage of Paratus’ high-quality connection infrastructure.
In 2018 EduVision, connected Tsumkwe Secondary School - which then went on to achieve some truly remarkable results only two years later. The school managed to boost its ranking due to the overall improvement of its students’ results. One student in Tsumkwe received an A+ in Biology, which was ranked the 11th best in the country. Furthermore, Tsumkwe’s National Ranking (incl. private schools) jumped a massive 149 places, from number 183 in 2018 to number 34 in 2020. Finally, in public schools, Tsumkwe’s ranking drastically shot up from 59 in 2019 to 14 in 2020.
One impacted learner from Waterberg Junior Secondary School said: “Comparing the pace at which we were learning then and now, EduVision has accelerated the learning and teaching process. Moreover, EduVision has brought improvement in our knowledge, and understanding.”
Harmse adds: “EduVision is a beacon of educational light. It provides online teaching not only to students but also provides the most technologically effective and efficient teaching tools and skills to schools, no matter how remote they are. We are proud to partner with EduVision and help unlock and unlimit the potential of Namibia’s future leaders and innovators.”