MultiChoice Uganda’s leading Pay television provider DStv has once again extended a generous hand to underprivileged schools by launching the MRC in Northern Uganda. Fifteen schools in the region have had digital learning equipment installed in their classrooms and turned into MultiChoice Resource Centers.
The MultiChoice Resource Centers (MRC) programme, is a continental Corporate Social Investment initiative that aims to enhance the traditional classroom learning experience using digital technology.
Speaking at the launch Mr. Charles Hamya, General Manager MultiChoice Uganda said “as an African business we are proud of the contribution we make to our communities, and our business has grown hand-in- hand with local economies by forging long-term partnerships with governments, national broadcasters and entrepreneurs”.
He continued “so far we have equipped over 90 MRCs in schools across the country and our plan is to continue to make a lasting impact to the lives of students across this country. We want to use our influence and resources to play a positive role in Africa, helping to grow Africa’s people and creative industries into vibrant, economic powerhouses. Through the educational channels we offer on our platform we believe we are working towards a common goal with our partners the Ministry of Education in achieving positive impact in the education sector.”
Officiating at the launch of the MRC programme at St Joseph’s College Layibi, the Assistant Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mr Alfred Kyaka appreciated MultiChoice Uganda for playing such an active role in supplementing the Ministries efforts in enhancing education across the country. He stated that “Education is a key factor to individual, institutional or economic success. MultiChoice’s commitment in investing in education has demonstrated sound responsibility on the part of corporate entities of the importance of adding value to society, and making a positive difference.”
He further urged the school heads and students where the resource centers have been installed to maximize the opportunity and to look beyond their immediate surroundings “the world is no longer what we just see around us, we live in a truly competitive global village and everything is now digital. Therefore there is a need for us to ensure that our education meets international standards.”
Closing the event while giving a vote of thanks Ms Tina Wamala the PR Manager of MultiChoice Uganda spoke about the benefits of MRC initiative and noted that the opportunities it offers will only be impactful if the students and teachers utilize the tools effectively for the purpose they were intended, “we have provided the equipment and the training what we cannot provide is the desire to learn and absorb the information. The hard part starts with you and it starts now.”
The MRC programme is part of the continental MultiChoice Africa initiative, backed by NEPAD so far over 1,500 schools across the continent and more than 300,000 students have benefited from the programme since its inception in 2004.
In April 2011 the project was re-launched in Uganda after the signing of an MOU between the Ministry and MultiChoice which sought to bring more schools onto the programme extending the reach and impact of the MRC programme to all parts of the country. The launch of the programme in Northern region now implies that the program has been covered in all regions of the country.