Today’s world is fast becoming a smaller global village whose polar opposites are being reduced in time and space by advancement in communication technology.

Time and up to date information have become of essence in determining success in the cut-throat world of business while access to information has also become critical in so many facets of our socioeconomic activities such as health and education. The Herald Business (HB) caught up with internet connectivity facility, Wi-Fi, equipment manufacturer, Ruckus Wireless, sub-Saharan Africa sales director Michael Fletcher (MF) for insights into how their organisation is impacting lives from an educational viewpoint.

Below is a set of questions and answers (A) from the interview we had with Mr Fletcher.

HB: Can you give a brief overview of your organisational operations, who you are, subsidiaries and detail activities in Zimbabwe?

MF: Ruckus Wireless is a global Wi-Fi equipment manufacturer, our work in Zimbabwe is currently being achieved through our local Zimbabwean partners (ProComm and Frolgate) in an effort of using Wi-Fi to improve socio-economic development in the country. Our Wi-Fi solutions have been mainly used in Zimbabwe to improve the educational system (private, secondary and tertiary) but our solutions also cater for other industries including; retail, warehousing, hospitality, healthcare and transportation just to name a few. We have a great relationship with our partners, they like our products and services and continue to use them because they work seamlessly, so we hope this will lead to further projects in Zimbabwe as we fight this African digital divide challenge one access point at a time.

HB: What is the importance of connectivity at schools?

MF: Connectivity in schools allows students to have access to the internet. This provision of internet, enables students to have unlimited access to information and knowledge – which is vital in today’s learning environments. While textbooks still play an important role in the school curriculum today in many schools — they are somewhat outdated as information on the internet is updated in real-time and on a daily basis. Today’s 21st Century student has the opportunity to be a digital learner, enabling them to not be restricted to the information and content in a book that was developed years ago, or on a teacher’s blackboard. Some schools in Zimbabwe have seen the opportunities and benefits that advanced technology can bring into teaching/learning process and have started getting more actively involved here which is so important in today’s technology dominated world!

BH: How can teachers and pupils benefit from such technological advancements?

MF: It enables a better teacher/learner experience as it opens up new and improved ways to teach and learn, accessing information simultaneously and interacting. This also doesn’t have to be limited to the parameters of a classroom. In fact, today, some schools across Africa have become smart schools by totally removing the pen to paper learning process and use tablets and iPads as exercise books with the teacher using an electronic whiteboard. This also allows parents to have a full view of what is being taught in class and be able to interact with the teacher immediately instead of waiting for a parent’s meeting that takes every few months. Additionally, should parents have any concerns regarding the curriculum being taught, they can raise their concerns there and then. Meetings can be virtual saving all parties time that can be spent fulfilling other tasks. Technological advancements are truly there to makes the teacher/learner process more efficient for all parties involved.

HB: The role of advanced technology in the schooling system – how important is this?

MF: There is no doubt that technology has changed the way we communicate as it enables real-time interactions – and enabling students to be exposed to advanced technology from primary school level and introducing it into the schooling system can have a positive impact on the entire learning process from access to books, information and case studies, real time feedback and monitoring of progress. We live in the digital age and almost everything is going online or has some form of an online presence. 21st century students have the opportunity to harness the opportunities that being a digital learner bring including, the opportunity to learn within and beyond the classroom.

HB: Wi-Fi has been dubbed as the best technology option for the schooling system. Why is this the case and how would Wi-Fi change the way universities/schools in Zimbabwe currently operate?

MF: Wi-Fi is a cost-effective and easy to implement solution. Wi-Fi in schools/universities in Zimbabwe will enable new educational practices to emerge. Ubiquitous access to the Internet means that schools in Zimbabwe can take advantage of the best learning practices used globally and tailor it to make it locally relevant and feasible for their schooling systems. When access to virtually unlimited resources of knowledge becomes available anywhere and anytime, our educators and students can start to take advantage of those resources, probably in ways that we didn’t think would be possible a decade ago. In addition, with more cost effective access to the internet, the roll out of such Wi-Fi technology can be implemented quickly and broadly, with little hindrance as a result of infrastructure.

HB: Which role players need to come together to make Wi-Fi a necessity in schools/universities across the country?

MF: Government participation is key — but they cannot achieve this alone. As such, public-private partnerships are essential. The best approach is to start small — with a school or university at a time. Based on the learnings from the first school/university you will have a better understanding on how to approach the next phase, should it be a success. If you take South Africa for example, there are industry players such as Project Isizwe (an initiative the aims to provide free Wi-Fi to citizens and students through Ruckus Wireless equipment) and they have rolled out Free Internet Zones (FIZ) sites at schools in townships including; Mamelodi, Atteridgeville and Soshanguve for the City of Tshwane project which is currently in phase 3. Due to the success of this project in Tshwane, the Free Wi-Fi project was at Atlantis Secondary School in the Western Cape which will also see residents from Robertson and Atlantis connect to free Wi-Fi and access free Internet. The initiative starting small with one province and is expanding due to the positive feedback and uptake. One thing is clear, as Africans we are hungry for connectivity.

HB: Wi-Fi has been available in universities in other countries in Africa for a while now — why do you think Zimbabwe has been slower in adopting this technology?

MF: I don’t think Zimbabwe has been that far behind other African countries, as a continent though we have been lagging behind our international counterparts.

A challenge in Zimbabwe has been the lack of a clear and dedicated body that specifically deals with ICT in education which hinders the government’s noble objectives. I can safely say progress has been made, as there are a number of educational facilities across the country that have Wi-Fi as a service on their premises for students.

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