Beyond the Basics: GIS Continues Investing in Advanced Learning Technology

May 14, 2026

GIS Continues Investing in Advanced Learning Technology 

Gaborone International School (GIS) says its latest investment in new computers and tablets reflects the school’s ongoing commitment to improving the learning experience for students and ensuring its facilities remain aligned with the demands of modern education.


Over the years, the school has continued strengthening its learning environment through ongoing campus and technology development. GIS already offers one of the strongest technology infrastructures in the region, with ten dedicated computer laboratories across the campus, including specialist labs for Pre-Primary, Primary School, and High School students. The latest upgrade, which includes new computers for the High School and tablets for the Primary School, forms part of that continued investment.


The school says that while its technology facilities have long been regarded as a strength, the pace of digital advancement means that what was considered advanced only a few years ago may no longer meet the needs of today’s students. The updated technology is aimed at enhancing classroom efficiency, supporting curriculum delivery, and ensuring students are equipped for a rapidly changing digital world.


According to Hannelie Raubenheimer, Executive Head of GIS, the investment reflects the school’s commitment to future-focused learning

“At GIS, we have always prioritised providing students with access to leading facilities and learning environments, but technology evolves incredibly quickly. A computer lab that was considered excellent four years ago is simply not sufficient for the needs of students today. We therefore must continue evolving alongside the world around us to ensure our students remain equipped with the skills, tools, and confidence they need to thrive,” she said.


Raubenheimer added that technology is also transforming the quality of learning taking place in classrooms.


“Through immersive learning experiences such as virtual reality and our innovative interactive digital platforms like Advlearn, students are able to engage with concepts in far more meaningful ways. We are seeing stronger levels of participation, confidence, and academic engagement from students across the school,” she said.


Thomas Ramakgoakgoa, High School Principal at GIS, said the upgraded technology will further strengthen teaching and student outcomes.

“Modern technology plays a critical role in preparing students for higher education and the workplace. By upgrading our systems, students can work more efficiently, collaborate more effectively, and engage more deeply with practical learning experiences. We have also seen how immersive technologies can improve concentration, motivation, and overall academic performance,” he said. “In the High School, technology is most valuable when it helps learners think, create, collaborate, and solve problems more effectively. In a Cambridge environment, students need to move beyond simply knowing information. They need to apply it, analyse it, and communicate their thinking clearly. These upgrades give our teachers and learners stronger tools to support that kind of learning.”


At Primary School level, the use of tablets is aimed at enriching the classroom experience through interactive and engaging learning methods. GIS says the devices will support foundational literacy and numeracy development while encouraging creativity, curiosity, and digital confidence from an early age.


Lisedi Phuti, Head of Primary School at GIS, said the integration of tablets allows teachers to create more engaging and personalised learning experiences for students.

“Interactive technology makes learning more exciting, accessible, and meaningful for young learners. Through tablets and immersive learning opportunities, students can engage with concepts in a more hands-on and visual way, which supports deeper understanding and retention. We have seen an impressive improvement in our international benchmarking (MAP testing) results for reading after having implemented Guided Readers in Standards 1 to 3. Students become more confident, more curious, and more willing to participate in classroom activities, while also strengthening important foundational academic skills,” she said.


The investment is not simply about keeping pace with technology trends, but about building on the strong foundation already in place at GIS. By continuing to upgrade facilities and learning tools, the school aims to create an environment where students and teachers alike are empowered to thrive while preparing students with the digital fluency and adaptability needed for the future.

Child reading a blue book with question marks and a glowing light bulb on a chalkboard background

Choosing the Right School: The Essential Checklist for Parents

May 11, 2026
Use this practical parent checklist to compare schools, ask the right questions, and choose the best learning environment for your child.

Why parents must approach education as a long-term investment.

By Darren • April 28, 2026
Why parents must approach education as a long-term investment – Advtech Choosing a school for your child will be one of the most complex and consequential decisions parents will ever make. When parents choose a school for their child, the decision is often shaped by immediate needs: convenience, reputation, or results in the senior years. Yet schooling is not a short-term decision. It is one of the longest and most formative investments a family will ever make, stretching over 12 to 15 years or more, from early childhood development through to Form 4 and further study. Darren Purdon, Head of Advtech Schools Academics, says the real value of education lies not in isolated moments of achievement, but in the intentional construction of learning over time, and that parents should approach their child’s educational journey intentionally, from start to finish. “Education depends on interconnected building blocks, each phase deliberately designed to prepare learners for the next,” he says. Parents should therefore carefully consider the elements that underpin a successful, lifelong educational journey before making this important decision. FOUNDATIONS MATTER Learning does not begin in Standard 1. It starts far earlier, in Kindergarten, where children develop the cognitive, social, emotional, and language skills that will underpin their entire academic journey, Purdon says. “When these early years are thoughtfully planned, children are more likely to arrive in the Foundation Phase confident, curious, and ready to learn. When they are not, gaps emerge that can widen over time. If the foundations are secure, progress accelerates, as we see in our Advtech Schools where we utilise international best practices and benchmarks to personalise early learning.” THE IMPORTANCE OF BELONGING Academic success is deeply connected to emotional safety and a sense of belonging. Children learn best when they feel comfortable at school, when they feel seen, supported and happy. And when teachers are supported, engaged, and professionally fulfilled, that sense of wellbeing naturally filters into the classroom. When students are excited about going to school, engagement increases, persistence improves and learning deepens. Social and emotional learning and supportive classroom environments with caring teachers underpin deep learning. Advtech schools include experienced psycho-social specialists to continually ensure teachers are upskilled in managing diverse classrooms. RESPONSIVE TEACHING AND TECH Effective education is not defined by what has been taught, but by what has been learned. “At Advtech schools, there is a growing shift toward instructional models that prioritise responsiveness. If learners have not grasped a concept, the expectation is not to move on regardless, but to re-teach using different strategies until understanding is achieved,” Purdon says. Additionally, technology has become a powerful enabler of this responsiveness, but not as a replacement for teachers. “AI-assisted tools, and classroom digital platforms such as Advlearn, increasingly act as classroom assistants, helping teachers identify learning gaps quickly and accurately. These tools provide insight into where students are struggling, allowing teachers to personalise support and adjust instruction accordingly.” INTENTIONAL SUBJECT PATHWAYS Consistency and coherence across subjects are another critical component of long-term value creation in education. “Take Mathematics as an example. Mathematical competence is not built in isolated units or single phases, it requires a carefully sequenced programme that develops conceptual understanding, fluency and confidence year after year,” says Purdon. “An intentional approach ensures that each phase prepares students for what follows, creating a golden thread that runs from early numeracy through to advanced problem-solving in the senior years. Gaps are far harder to close when this thread is broken.” The same principle applies across subjects: literacy, science, languages, and beyond. “Strategic curriculum alignment therefore ensures that learning compounds rather than resets each year, and parents should keep this in mind when strategizing their child’s educational journey.” CHOOSING A SCHOOL WITH THE LONG VIEW For parents, the key question should not only be “Is this a good school now?”, but rather “Is this a school that understands the full journey, as well as understands where my child excels and needs support in each subject?” “Advtech Schools value long-term academic growth, student wellbeing, teacher development, and intentional curriculum design offers far more than short-term results. It offers continuity, stability, and a clear vision of success from the earliest years through to matric,  ” Purdon says. “And in an education landscape that continues to evolve, the most trusted institutions are those that recognise schooling not as a series of isolated years, but as a curated journey, using regular academic data to personalise learning and shape student success for life.”

Every Student Deserves a Place Where Curiosity is Celebrated

April 8, 2026
In a rapidly changing world, education can no longer be defined by textbooks alone. It must inspire, challenge, and ignite a lifelong love of learning. At the heart of this transformation is a simple but powerful belief: every student deserves a place where curiosity is not only welcomed—but deliberately cultivated. In Botswana, this idea is increasingly shaping how leading institutions think about education. Nowhere is this more evident than in the recent evolution of Gaborone International School (GIS), whose rebranding reflects more than a refreshed identity. It signals a deeper commitment to aligning environment, philosophy, and student experience in ways that are both contemporary and grounded while being underpinned by an unwavering commitment to quality education At its core, a school must first be a place where students feel secure, known, supported, and understood. Pastoral care, often understated in conversations about academic success, plays a defining role in this. At GIS, there is a growing emphasis on ensuring that each student is seen not just as a learner, but as an individual navigating both academic and personal development. Structures that support wellbeing, mentorship, and open communication create an atmosphere where students feel safe to take intellectual risks. Curiosity, after all, thrives where there is trust. This sense of care is balanced by a strong culture of discipline, one that is not imposed for its own sake, but cultivated as a framework for growth. Discipline, in this context, is about consistency, accountability, and respect. It teaches students to manage their time, honour commitments, and engage constructively with challenges. Rather than restricting curiosity, it gives it direction, ensuring that exploration is purposeful and sustained. Equally important is the role of tradition and culture in shaping the school environment. Even as GIS embraces innovation and modernisation, it remains anchored in values that promote respect, integrity, and community. A diverse, international student body brings with it a richness of perspectives, and the school’s culture encourages students to both celebrate difference and find common ground. In this balance between global outlook and local relevance, students develop a broader understanding of Botswana, the world and their place within it. The physical environment reinforces these values. Purpose-built science laboratories, collaborative learning spaces, robotics labs, and digital hubs provide students with the tools to explore ideas beyond theory. These spaces are not simply about access to technology, they are about creating opportunities for hands-on, inquiry-driven learning. Supporting this is a philosophy that recognises that each student’s learning journey is unique. The integration of adaptive technologies and responsive teaching methods allows educators to tailor learning experiences, ensuring that students are both challenged and supported. This personalised approach moves beyond standardised expectations, focusing instead on helping each learner reach their full potential. At the center of it all are educators who understand that their role extends beyond instruction. They guide, mentor, and challenge students, encouraging them to think critically, ask better questions, and engage deeply with their learning. Ongoing professional development ensures that teaching remains dynamic, informed by global best practices while rooted in the needs of the local context. What emerges from this alignment of care, culture, discipline, and innovation is an environment that feels both structured and open. Students are given the freedom to explore, within a framework that supports their growth. They learn not only to question the world around them, but to do so with responsibility, empathy, and purpose. The rebranding of Gaborone International School, then, can be understood as a reflection of this balance. It is not about changing direction, but about clarifying intent, about creating a school experience that is as attentive to character as it is to capability. Because when students are supported holistically, when they are cared for, guided by values, and equipped with the right tools, curiosity does more than flourish. It becomes the foundation upon which confident, disciplined, and compassionate individuals are built.