SPTC hosts Girls in ICT'

MBABANE - More than 105 high school girls toured Information and Communication Technology facilities yesterday.

The girls from various regions visited Swaziland Posts and Telecommuni-cations Corporation (SPTC) facilities in the towns near them as part of the world’s commemoration of ‘Girls in ICT’. They were exposed to the working world of technology with the hope that they would take an interest in the ICT sector.

Globally there are few women in ICT careers, hence the need to expose girls to the technology environment.

Those in Mbabane had the opportunity to visit Swazi TV. At SPTC they were shown the process that takes place from the moment one picks up the receiver to make a call, until the receiver answers the call.

They were also shown the Internet Data Centre, where all of Swaziland’s internet connections are controlled.

Before the tour, SPTC’s Systems Developer, Nelisiwe Ndlela explained how she found her feet in the ICT sector, and how the journey had been, as a woman in a male dominated world.

Swaziland celebrated the day with the rest of the world. This is a day that has been sanctioned by the International Telecomm-unication Union (ITU) and is to be celebrated annually, on the fourth Thursday of April.

The event has hopefully given the girls the opportunity to discover the wide range of career prospects in the industry. This is more so because they have been able to interact with women in the ICT sector, who may become career role models.

Generally, in most parts of the world, women have not been afforded much career opportunities in the ICT sector.

"SPTC has approached this activity with a view of fulfilling its mandate to improve access to technology.

"Because of the mandate, we will always do all we can to support the needs of the younger generation to learn about using ICT to tackle major challenges, such as climate change and other economic challenges.

"Moreover, SPTC realises and accepts that it operates within the realm of society and, therefore, has a great responsibility to align itself with the community and to subscribe to the noble notion of promoting gender equality and empowering women.

"Girls must realise at a young age that they too have an important role to play in the development of Swaziland’s economy," reads a statement from SPTC. This event sought to inspire the young learners to achieve their goals and to stay focused on excellence.

Comments

I would like to thank SPTC for exposing the girls to the ICT facillities. I strongly believe that this will change the pupils attitude towards the subject ICT and Computer studies. This campaign and trip motivated them as they were able to see the facillities which are used in television stations, internet and also during communication. I hope in future it will be an ICT for all i.e both girls and boys. Thank you once again to SPCTC may they keep this good spirit up as their work will produce good fruits. Sibiya T E
Apr 27, 2012, 6:08 AM, Sibiya.com (Sibiya.com21@gmail.com)

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