By Sr. Namasiku Mutonga Perpetua, LSSF, Livingstone CNCS Hub
Former Maramba Girls Association (FOMAGA), an association of former pupils of St. Mary’s Secondary School in Maramba, Livingstone, has donated Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment to the school to enhance teaching and learning.
The donation, which included a printer, central processing unit (CPU) and other ICT accessories, was officially handed over at the school during a handover ceremony.
FOMAGA Chairperson Mrs. Judith Mukwita-Maambo said the donation reflects the association’s commitment to supporting the school’s continued growth and excellence.
She said the equipment would help bridge the digital gap by giving teachers and learners greater opportunities to teach and acquire digital skills.
‘’We recognise that we live in a rapidly changing world where technology has become an essential tool for learning, communication, innovation and development. Access to information and communication technology is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity,’’ Mrs. Maambo said.
She said the association believes every learner deserves access to quality learning resources that will enable them to compete confidently in today’s digital environment.
Mrs. Maambo said the education the association’s members received at St. Mary’s Secondary School laid the foundation for their personal and professional growth, inspiring them to give back to the institution.
‘’As former students, we carry fond memories of the lessons, guidance, discipline and values we received at this school, which have shaped who we are today,’’ she said.
Mrs. Maambo urged teachers and learners to take good care of the donated equipment and use it effectively to improve teaching and learning.
And St. Mary’s Secondary School Headgirl Limpo Mulawa thanked FOMAGA for the donation, saying the ICT equipment will help learners improve their computer skills, conduct research, access educational resources and prepare for the opportunities and challenges of the digital age.
‘’Your contribution is not only an investment in equipment, but also an investment in our education, our future careers and the development of our community,’’ she said.
Ms. Mulawa assured FOMAGA that learners would use the equipment responsibly and take good care of it so that future learners could also benefit from it.
She also thanked the school administration, teachers and everyone who contributed to the successful handover ceremony.
Meanwhile, St. Mary’s Secondary School Head Teacher Sr. Maria Assumpta Mubanga thanked FOMAGA for its continued support, saying the association’s continued support had helped advance the school’s vision and mission.
She appealed for continued support, noting that refurbishing the girls’ ablution blocks would be the school’s priority project next year.
‘’We are grateful for your support. You have supported our vision and our mission,’’ she said.
St. Mary’s Secondary School was founded in 1956 by Bishop Timothy Phelim O’Shea and is managed by the Little Sisters of St. Francis, a congregation he founded in 1960 to support the school through teaching and management while serving vulnerable women and girls in society.