NEWS
MBABANE - The Eswatini Royal Insurance Corporation (ESRIC) has donated computers and stationery worth E63 144 to Mpaka Primary School to promote digital literacy.
The corporation stepped forward to ensure that even pupils at the primary school level are not left behind in the country's digital transformation, as Assistant General Manager Musa Simelane described it.The donation, presented during a handover ceremony at the school, included 18 desktop computers valued at E45 000, as well as printers and stationery worth E18 144.
Speaking during the presentation, Simelane expressed pride in contributing to digital skills development at a grassroots level. "It gives us absolute pleasure to be here today (on Friday) to hand over this donation, which we believe will go a long way towards cultivating and fostering computer literacy among the pupils," he said. The assistant general manager further commended Mpaka Primary School for already investing in digital readiness, noting that the school boasts a fully fledged computer laboratory, which he described as a rarity at a primary school level.
"We must applaud the school's commitment to producing future-fit pupils. The journey to digital transformation ought to begin here at this level; otherwise, the journey to digitalisation will be long, arduous and painful if it does not involve the young generation," Simelane added. However, he also reminded the school community to preserve the equipment with the utmost care.
"These digital tools we are donating today require to be treated with care to ensure their longevity. We would like to implore the school to observe comprehensive safety protocols to conserve the lifespan of these endowments," he urged. Simelane warned that the new equipment is vulnerable to break-ins, weather-related risks and power grid fluctuations, urging both the school and community to take protective measures. He also assured them that ESRIC's commitment was not a once-off gesture. "One of our in-built characteristics is that when our paths intersect, we become instant partners for years to come," he concluded.
The school warmly welcomed the donation, saying it would expand opportunities for learners to embrace digital learning. Head teacher Thokozani Matsenjwa expressed gratitude, highlighting that ESRIC had been supporting the school consistently for the past two years."We have been engaging with ESRIC for about two years now. First year ESRIC gave us E20 000 and we bought two computers and the second year they did the same thing," Matsenjwa explained. He added that the latest donation was a testament to ESRIC's continued interest in the school's development."Today, we believe in the day we have to celebrate these computers; they are going to help us learn. We are living in a world where AI is a buzzword also," he said.
Matsenjwa also shared the school's vision of expanding its digital facilities further. "This donation will help improve the school's computer lab and we are looking forward to adding internet. So that when you are in the lab, you are going to be able to do whatever you are supposed to do as you are learning," he said. Speaking on behalf of the school's manager, Bheki Zwane of Eswatini Railways said the corporation's gesture aligned with national priorities. "At Eswatini Railways, we also promote skills development and it is part of our strategy. We also live in the information age and everything is digitalised," he said.
Zwane further emphasised that the computers would sharpen the pupils' abilities and prepare them for future leadership roles. "This donation will go a long way in improving the pupils' skills, who are the future leaders of Eswatini Railways and ESRIC," he said. He also noted his personal satisfaction with the gesture. "I also have a policy with ESRIC and I am happy that I am part of a company that cares about people, even in this dire economic system," Zwane remarked. On behalf of parents, Bheki Shongwe, Vice Chairperson of the school committee, expressed appreciation for the partnership between the school and ESRIC. "We believe this donation will go a long way in assisting us in embracing digital transformation. We would also like to appreciate the head teacher for making this partnership with ESRIC," Shongwe said.
He added that parents were also playing their part to ensure that pupils had access to modern learning tools. "We were talking about ways to get internet connection with the head teacher, for the pupils to be able to start learning about coding and programming," he said. Shongwe stressed that parents were committed to ensuring their children are prepared for a digital-driven future. "As parents, we also try to make sure our children get the best skills as they grow," he said.