By Dipo Olowookere
In keeping with Samsung’s goal to enrich and transform lives through digital technology, the electronics giant today reiterated its commitment to advancing access to technology in education across Africa.
Speaking at the Samsung Africa Forum 2017, Ms Sthembile Shabangu, head of Public Relations and Corporate Citizenship at Samsung Electronics, Africa Office notes: “In today’s digital era, any community, especially disadvantaged areas, will benefit from hands-on experience with technology.
“Our aim is to make sure that every African child has access to education, no matter where they are – be it in a rural area lacking infrastructure or perhaps in an existing infrastructure that lacks educational resources – by providing access to technology.”
As a global citizen, Samsung uses its education technology to give back to society in two ways: by creating new learning opportunities so that young people can enjoy access to better education; and by supporting youth employment through vocational training and skills development.
To date, Samsung have launched 10 Digital Villages, 33 Solar-Powered Internet Schools (SPIS), 27 eLearning Centres, 22 Smart Schools, 12 Engineering Academies and 8 Digital Libraries across Africa and plans to establish more this year.
Samsung is at the forefront of using its resources and expertise with efforts to help the continent achieve its Sustainable Development Goals. “Work of this nature can never be achieved in isolation. Collaboration with communities, governments and NPOs become critical in making sure that any Corporate Citizenry efforts move that much further. We are encouraged by the sustainable partnerships we have with UNESCO, KOICA and KERIS to name a few.”
Samsung works with educators around the world to improve learning experiences through the use of technology, facilitating a limitless classroom environment that gives students access to a world of knowledge from their desks or on the go. This is made possible by solutions designed with Africa in mind, namely the Solar Powered Internet Schools, Smart Schools and E-Learning Academies, which provide solutions that deliver on this vision and improve the quality of learning, enhance teaching effectiveness and allow administrators to run institutions more effectively.
