The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, has emphasised the importance of making educational websites accessible to all children, especially in rural areas.

Tayebwa made the remarks at the launch of CanalBox – Group Vivendi Africa (GVA) Uganda, an internet service provider that aims to make the internet accessible to Ugandans.

The launch took place on Wednesday, 10 July 2024 at the Kampala Serena Hotel.

Tayebwa highlighted the benefits of zero-rating educational websites which he said would allow students from disadvantaged backgrounds to access valuable learning resources without the burden of internet costs.

“While my child can afford internet access, many children in rural Wakiso and other similar areas would greatly benefit from free access to educational resources,” he said.

He said that by zero-rating educational services and eliminating harmful content, Uganda can build a society that contributes meaningfully to the country’s development and protects children and the values held by the country.

Zero-rating educational websites means that internet service providers (ISPs) offer access to educational websites without charging for data. In this case, users can visit educational websites without using up their data allowance or incurring extra costs thus making educational resources more accessible.