By Guardian Reporter , The Guardian
Airtel Tanzania has launched a five-year initiative dubbed Airtel SmartWASOMI tha will accelerate the adoption of digital education across the country by integrating public secondary schools with Airtel's high-speed internet routers
.Targeting the most vulnerable children in over 3,000 secondary schools across Tanzania, the initiative will enable free access to digital learning platforms and help ensure that every child reaches their full potential.
The initiative which was established alongside UNICEF as capacity building partners, has successfully initiated its pilot phase, reaching 50 secondary schools in Zanzibar, Dodoma, and Mbeya, providing them with Airtel’s high-speed routers. Furthermore, the project has accomplished the training of over 2000 teachers, thereby benefiting upwards of 55,000 students directly.
Speaking during the official launch of the project at the climax of the National Educational, Skills and Innovation Week in Tanga, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa who graced the event as the guest of honor remarked, “Digital learning is the fastest way of improving learning outcomes and equipping our children for the future. The government therefore commends Airtel Tanzania and UNICEF for spearheading an initiative such as SmartWASOMI which supplements the government’s efforts aimed at scaling up access to digital learning for our children.”
Prime Minister further detailed that the implementation of the Airtel SmartWASOMI project will support the government’s efforts to nurture digital literacy and it will also solve the challenge of the shortage of teachers in secondary schools.
“Airtel Tanzania has done exceptional work because this is the kind of creativity that positively impacts the society. Through this project teachers will be connected to online libraries to have cost-free access to all teaching and learning materials,” he said.
On his part, the Minister for Education, Science, and Technology, Adolf Mkenda explained that Airtel SMARTWASOMI will not only bridge the digital divide but also pave the way for a brighter future for our students through high-speed internet routers that will offer free access to accredited e-learning resources.
“This initiative will set a new standard in educational excellence as it will undoubtedly enhance the quality of education and empower our youth to thrive in this digital world. We are proud to support this endeavor and look forward to witnessing the positive impact it will have on the educational landscape in Tanzania,” he said.
The Managing Director of Airtel Tanzania, Dinesh Balsingh, reflected on the company's longstanding commitment to digital education, dating back to 2015 with the launch of VSOMO in partnership with the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) — a mobile platform facilitating VETA course access without the necessity for physical classroom attendance. Moreover, Airtel's collaboration with DTBi in launching a digital lab underscores its dedication to enhancing ICT capabilities among entrepreneurs, enabling them to efficiently manage their businesses in the digital era.
“Through the Airtel SmartWasomi project, we have estimated to spend about TZS128,262,608,000/- equal to USD50,299,062 within 5 years of implementation, our vision is to ensure we invest our technology for sustainability and advancement of the present and future generations by making sure every learner in Tanzania has full access to education materials.
He further added explained “Our goal is to digitize 3,000 schools in the next five years. We will start with 1000 schools in 2024 and thereafter every connected secondary school will be getting 1,200GB per year for our students and teachers to be able to read through zero-rated TIE online library.”
Balsingh highlighted that Tanzania will now join Kenya and Nigeria in third place among 13 countries in the continent where Airtel Africa has commenced efforts towards digital learning.
“This flagship project targets to connect one million children across Africa to opportunities in the education sector for five years to provide an opportunity for disadvantaged children in rural and distant areas,” he said.
On his part, Airtel Africa’s Group CEO, Sunil Taldar emphasized that the Airtel SMARTWASOMI highlights Airtel’s deep commitment to bridging the digital divide and empowering Africa's future generations.
“By providing equal access to quality digital learning, particularly for the most vulnerable children, we are underlining our commitment to helping African children reach their full potential. We are deeply grateful to the Government of Tanzania for their collaboration and leadership and to UNICEF for being a valuable partner in the pursuit of this lofty initiative,” he said.
The UNICEF Country Representative, Elke Wisch, detailed that “Data reveal that millions of children in Africa are challenged by the lack of access to quality learning materials caused by scarcity in resources, adding that, the UNICEF’s partnership with Airtel Tanzania is vital to refocus the direction of children’s education towards success.
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