“The children want to come to school now.”
At Mawaza Primary School in Gwanda, Zimbabwe, Bokang Mleya has seen how technology is changing education. Since 2021, she has been teaching Grade 5 and leading the school’s ICT program using tablets powered by solar energy.
The school had tablets and solar panels but faced a big challenge: they didn’t have enough reliable batteries to keep the tablets charged. “We had tablets, but no power to use them properly,” Bokang explains. “Practical Action donated power banks, and that changed everything.”
With these power banks, the school can now hold two ICT lessons every week per class, from Grade 2 to Grade 7. “The students love it. Even the youngest ones, from Early Childhood Development, are learning to use the tablets,” she says. Many started not knowing how to switch on a tablet. Now, they can log in, complete lessons, and log out independently.
The tablets come with an educational application called ProFuturo — a digital education program created by the Telefónica Foundation and “la Caixa” Foundation to improve education quality in vulnerable communities worldwide. Through this application, students access subjects like Math, English, and Ndebele. At the end of each term, students take exams on the tablets, which helps teachers track their progress more easily. “The system even marks the exams automatically, so my workload is lighter,” Bokang adds.
The introduction of tablets has also improved attendance. “Absenteeism has reduced because learners are excited to come to school and use the gadgets,” she says. Girls, in particular, have become confident users and often show great enthusiasm during lessons.
For Bokang, the tablets have transformed her teaching. “Before, I wrote everything on the chalkboard, which was tiring. Now I type the work, and students answer on the tablets. It helps us cover more material efficiently.”
Looking ahead, she believes digital skills will open many doors for her students. “In today’s world, ICT knowledge is essential. It will help them in their future careers and daily life.”
For Bokang, teaching with these tools is about inspiring a new generation to dream bigger and learn better. “We’ve seen what’s possible. Now we want to grow and keep improving.”
