“AI is here to bring change and as a country we should not be left behind.”
These were the words of MTN Eswatini Chief Executive Officer (CEO)Wandile Mtshali during the artificial intelligence (AI) literacy graduation ceremony held yesterday at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) Kwaluseni campus on Friday.
Mtshali said AI was no longer optional as children were already using the technology and require guidance from teachers and parents in navigating the digital world they live in.
“Our children today are tech-savvy and as teachers and parents we should help them navigate technology and ensure they are safe while doing so. And for us to be able to achieve that we need to use it daily and integrate it in our teaching,” he added.
The event, held as part of MTN’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care initiative, saw a total of 100 teachers receiving certificates in AI literacy following a five-day training hosted by the UNESWA AI Academy in partnership with MTN Eswatini, Nando’s and Zondi Attorneys.
Held under the theme ‘Empowering Minds, Accelerating Futures’, the event marked a major step in advancing digital education for teachers.
As part of the celebration, four best performing participants, Xolani Kunene, Lungile Dlamini, Lomalungelo Dlamini and Samkelisiwe Shongwe were awarded tablets which were sponsored by Zondi Attorneys and certificates for their outstanding participation. They also won free enrollment courses to formally learn tech courses starting from today.
MTN Eswatini’s Business Development Manager, Lomkhosi Dludlu set the tone of the day by engaging the audience in a reflective question and answer session. She asked the attendees to describe a teacher in their own words. Responses ranged from ‘a person who helps children in their academic journey’ to ‘a guide who shapes young people’s future.’
Shabalala then went on and described a teacher as ‘a life coach and a motivator.’
She elaborated on how AI is reshaping education by giving learners the freedom to choose paths aligned with their interests. She said AI helped children decide what they wanted to become based on their strengths, not only what the society expects of them. Shabalala also touched on the essential traits of a 21st-century educator.
She emphasised the need to safeguard children’s personal data online, citing the country’s Data Protection Act.
“Data privacy and protection is a very crucial subject that we have to note. We must ensure that we protect our children’s data while we are using technology.
Even something as simple as a child’s name needs to be protected at all times. If you are found to violate the law and expose minors’ private information online, you could face a fine of up to E100 million. That is how serious it is,” she warned.
UNESWA Vice Chancellor Professor Justice Thwala expressed gratitude for the partnerships that made the training possible and praised the programme’s success.
“AI is transforming education and the job market. It is a progress to the future and many careers these days require AI knowledge and application. When Professor Sandile Motsa came to me with the idea, I said, ‘Let’s try it.’ Today, I am very happy to see that it has worked and produced positive results,” he said.
Thwala further urged teachers to use what they have learnt and share it with their learners. He also invited the audience to enrol in the MTN Skills Academy, a free digital platform that offers online courses in digital skills, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy.
One of the graduating teachers, Thobile Sihlongonyane, an English educator from Duze High School, expressed appreciation for the initiative.
“We are very happy and thankful to the programme organisers for giving us such an opportunity and we have surely learnt a lot. When we first got here some of us were clueless, but now we have learnet and are more knowledgeable.
“This knowledge is going to help us stay ahead of the times and deliver quality education that fits this generation,” she said.
Sibongile Zondi from Zondi Attorneys said the world was evolving in technology and Eswatini too is at digitalisation. She went on to make a few examples of how even law firms can benefit from AI.
