"Dear Cell C, MTN, Vodacom and 8ta"
The following is the text of a letter written by a group of Grade 11 learners, calling on mobile networks to make Wikipedia available free on phones.
We are learners in a Grade 11 class at
Sinenjongo High School, Joe Slovo Park, Milnerton, Cape Town. We recently
heard that in some other African countries like Kenya and Uganda certain cell
phone providers are offering their customers free access to Wikipedia.
We think this is a wonderful idea and would
really like to encourage you also to make the same offer here in South
Africa. It would be totally amazing to be able to access information on
our cell phones which would be affordable to us.
Our school does not have a library at all so
when we need to do research we have to walk a long way to the local
library. When we get there we have to wait in a queue to use the one or
two computers which have the internet. At school we do have 25 computers
but we struggle to get to use them because they are mainly for the learners who
do CAT (Computer Application Technology) as a subject. Going to an
internet cafe is also not an easy option because you have to pay per half hour.
90% of us have cellphones but it is expensive
for us to buy airtime so if we could get free access to Wikipedia it would make
a huge difference to us.
Normally when we do research Wikipedia is one
of the best sites for us to use and so we go straight to it. The
information there is clear, updated and there is information on just about
every topic.
Our education system needs help and having
access to Wikipedia would make a very positive difference. Just think of
the boost that it will give us as students and to the whole education system of
South Africa.
From Sinombongo, Sinako, Busisiwe, Ntswaki,
Bomkazi, Lindokuhle, Ntsika, Patrick, Ndumiso, Sinazo, Bathandwa, Nokuthembela,
Lutho, Mandlilakhe, Zingisile, Aviwe, Nezisa, Ncumisa, Nokubonga, Pheliwe,
Zama, Unathi, Malixole and Ntombozuko.
* Click here to read the
original article.
email this to a friend
printer friendly version
Comments on '"Dear Cell C, MTN, Vodacom and 8ta"'
Leave your comment