MultiChoice Malawi set for DStv Eutelsat Star Awards

MultiChoice Malawi regional manager for central and northern Malawi Titania Katenga-Kaunda said, as a company they long showed commitment when in 2007, MultiChoice Africa and the Malawi government, through the Ministry of Education, entered an agreement to implement MultiChoice Resource Centres in Malawi.

"MultiChoice Africa developed the MultiChoice Resource Centres project, as one of its corporate social investment projects as there's evidence that multimedia can catalyse and improve quality of education," she said.

Implement, showcase locally developed e-education models

Consequently, Katenga-Kaunda said MultiChoice Africa identified a need to implement and showcase locally developed e-education models that are workable within specific country's education curriculum.

"In response to this, MultiChoice Africa launched the DStv Education Bouquet offering as a medium to support teaching and learning in schools. Comprising nine premium channels, the bouquet combines the sound and imagery of television in a powerful education media," she explained.

This involves equipping schools with the latest digital satellite technology and access to content on the nine premiums and informative television channels through the education bouquet.

To date, Katenga-Kaunda said a network of 900 MultiChoice Resource Centres has been established in 25 countries in Africa including Malawi currently with 39 MultiChoice Resource Centres contributing to MultiChoice Africa's statistics.

A statement jointly released by MultiChoice Africa and Eutelsat Communications in Johannesburg, on Tuesday 14 June 2011 observed that digital services made available by satellite to all four corners of the world are recognised as powerful engines driving economic and social progress.

"To continue to propel forward the expansion and democratisation of the information society, the development of technology and science skills among students is a key factor," said the statement.

Education, key driver for development

It says with a shared vision that education is a key driver for the development of Africa's social and economic landscape, MultiChoice Africa and Eutelsat Communications, supported by Mindset Learn, have assembled their expertise to initiate this pan-African student competition.

The firms revealed that the aim of the awards is to inspire innovative thinking among secondary and high school students, to create awareness on how science and technology can be applied to everyday life, and to show the many ways that satellites already impact on the development of the African continent.

The statement said the awards take the form of a competition open to 14-19 year-old students in 42 countries who are invited to write an essay or design a poster on satellite technology and explain how it can assist further development of their communities, country or the African continent.

"Country winners vying for the overall prize will go on to compete at an international level, adjudicated on 12 September 2011 by an international judging panel," the statement reads in part.

Live rocket launch

It says the overall winner will be invited to see a live rocket launch and to Eutelsat's headquarters in France. Merit award winners will win a trip to Johannesburg to see DStv's technical facilities and television studios at the MultiChoice Africa offices.

The winners, the statement said will also tour the Mindset education broadcasting facilities.

At the moment a resource booklet for teachers and students has been developed for the competition and can be accessed on www.dstvstarawards.com or from MultiChoice or Mindset Offices for South Africa only.

MultiChoice Africa says it will leverage its network of MultiChoice Resource Centres(MRCs) which enable almost 1,000 schools in Africa to access information and educational television resources.