Tech Firm, MTN Uganda, Sets up an ICT Classroom and Offers Complimentary Internet to a School in Arua.
MTN Uganda Opens Inclusive ICT Lab at Mvara Secondary School
MTN Uganda, through its MTN Foundation, has recently opened an inclusive Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Lab at Mvara Secondary School in Arua City. This lab is part of a broader UGX 1 billion investment aimed at expanding digital access to underserved and inclusive learning institutions across Uganda.
The lab, one of 11 ICT facilities established under the MTN Foundation's Digital Access Project, is designed to serve over 100 learners with special needs. It is equipped with 10 computers, Bluetooth speakers, JAWS screen readers for visually impaired students, sound amplifiers for those with hearing difficulties, printers, scanners, CCTV cameras, antivirus software, and offers a year of free internet access.
The inauguration of the lab was marked by remarks from Philip Odoi, MTN’s Regional Commercial Head for Northern Uganda. He emphasized the lab's role in empowering every learner, regardless of ability, and bridging the digital divide. The project was implemented in partnership with Sense International Uganda, a charity supporting people with deafness and blindness, and local educational authorities, underlining its inclusive ethos.
Asiku Geoffrey, the City Education Officer, stated that the lab serves as a reminder to every child that they have a place in the digital world. Annet Dilea, the Education Officer for Special Needs, referred to the lab as a "gift of dignity and equal opportunity."
The lab's location at Mvara Secondary School, a school known for its commitment to inclusive education, is significant. The school stands out in the West Nile region for its support of learners with visual, hearing, or physical impairments.
MTN Uganda acknowledged its partners, Sense International Uganda, and the Arua education team, for their collaboration in this initiative. The ICT Lab project is part of MTN Uganda's ongoing efforts to promote inclusivity and provide digital opportunities for all. Philip Odoi reiterated that the ICT Lab is more than just technology; it is an opportunity for every learner to succeed, regardless of their ability.
The impact of the ICT Lab extends beyond infrastructure. It represents a significant step towards digital inclusion and equal educational opportunity for learners with disabilities in the region. Similar inclusive ICT labs have been successfully implemented in other Ugandan schools, enhancing access to e-learning content for visually impaired students. To date, MTN Uganda has established 63 ICT labs nationwide, including nine in technical and vocational institutions, with plans for further expansion.
The ICT Lab at Mvara Secondary School, equipped with assistive technology such as JAWS screen readers and sound amplifiers, is a stepping stone in MTN Uganda's investment towards digital access and education-and-self-development for learners with disabilities. As Philip Odoi, MTN’s Regional Commercial Head for Northern Uganda, reemphasizes, the lab goes beyond technology, offering learners with special needs an equal opportunity to succeed.