By Prince Njagu
ECONET Wireless has officially launched its commercialized eLibrary facility which is meant to transform the tertiary education sector in the country.
Students from across the country’s tertiary institutions can now access educational material in the palm of their hands through the Econet EcoSchool digital education platform which provides scholars with on-the-go affordable access to world-class educational content.
The Eco-School test product launch was in February this year at the University of Zimbabwe. It shall be going going commercial this week; with the telecommunications company intensifying its move to tap into the unbanked market.
The Econet Services CEO Mr Darlington Mandivenga said that EcoSchool is meant to transform the education sector in Zimbabwe as Econet had identified areas of greatest need and now were making their EcoSchool product commercial.
“A successful six months test run of the service at the University of Zimbabwe this year sees the product being accessible to all tertiary students in Zimbabwe as of tomorrow”; said Mandivenga.
EcoSchool comes with an eLibrary service, Chat platform; EcoSchool Tablet and data; which allows on-the-go affordable 3G enabled Tablet web surfing service.
With EcoSchool; subscribed students would surf the web for free with zero rated access to approved educational websites as well as low cost data packages specifically for EcoSchool students.
Mandivenga said “With the eLibrary service scholars can save up-to 90% on core eTextbook titles and this service comes with a broad selection of eBooks to engage and educate all learners.”
He said that education is no-longer limited to a brick and mortar structure as everyone can engage in his studies on-the-go anywhere; anytime.
Econet telecommunications will transform the Zimbabwe learning environment in all tertiary Institutions through innovative cell phone technology.
Teresa Mbagaya Head Econet Education said; “Through EcoSchool, students in Zimbabwe will experience a new way of learning on-the-go.”
The 3G enabled Tablet will allow every tertiary student to surf the web anywhere; anytime without having to walk into a classroom structure and will provide them with on-line resources, lecture notes and educational content at discounted prices.
