Tele-Education as Distance Learning for Batswana Students

Distance learning in Botswana will now be enjoyed by their students through India’s leading universities. Batswana students will have an opportunity to earn certification through the joint initiative between the Indian Government and African Union. The Botswana College of Distance and Open Learning had recently launched the Pan African e-Network tele-education project which is aimed to innovate education in several African universities.

The tele-education project will enable five African regional leading universities to access the Hub via 2mbbs broadband/VSAT to 53 remote virtual classes distributed in all 53 countries. Seven leading Indian universities will be connected to the African Hub while India will host a Tele-Education LMS portal comprise of the university Tele-Education delivery system software incorporating e-Learning, content management KMS (Knowledge Management System) and a digital library solution for each African university.

Daniel Tau, Executive Director of BODOCOL explained that the e-Network project which a joint initiative of two nations will provide distance education and offer online certificate programs to all participating Batswana students through online interaction. The US$ 116 million tele-education program will change the education perspective of the students with the use of modern information communication technologies coming from the top universities in India.

Students can access the open education project through BODOCOL institutions by attending scheduled distance learning center set up in each member country. BODOCOL offers eight BOTA accredited courses. Meanwhile, the Tertiary Education Council will also innovate its learning methods and strategies in line with the upcoming changes and recently there are 350 students enrolled in the eight programs.

Minister of Education Pelonomi Venson Moitoi expressed that the tele-education are in line with the goal of the nation’s education hub in bringing up literacy through the use of modern equipments. She also said that this will test the feasibility of distance education for further investments.