adminTrust Freddy
Herald correspondent
Another 1 500 solar-powered radios were handed over yesterday to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for distribution to schools off the grid so they can boost the teaching and learning needing access to the radio.
Unicef with assistance from the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office donated 1 500 solar-powered radios and memory sticks loaded with pre-recorded lessons to allow children without internet access or electricity to continue learning through radio lessons.
These solar powered radios and memory sticks will be distributed to remote areas as part of the catch-up packages designed to redress the gap left by Covid-19 interruptions of regular school lessons and by the “digital divide” that marginalises many but especially those without access to electricity and internet.
The radios also address the issue of limited or non-existent radio signal in remote areas, as the radios have USB ports for playing pre-recorded lessons.
During a handover ceremony held in Harare yesterday, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Dr Evelyn Ndlovu said the challenges faced stressed in her Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education that the provision of quality education is no longer confined to the four walls of the classroom.
“I want to remind you that the prevalence of disasters in recent years and the advancement of technology has necessitated the development of educational pedagogy to facilitate learning from anywhere at any time.
“The Ministry resuscitated interactive radio instruction from 2020 as a digital learning form, in order to provide equitable, ethical, enjoyable learning. Primarily, the alternative learning platform was used as a form of distance learning to teach pupils who were unable to attend face-to face instruction due to Covid-19. Radio instruction allows mobile, alternative, remote and blended learning opportunities at a low cost because it is cheaper than any other form of digital learning,” she said.
Interactive radio was very flexible as programmes could be targeted to a specific geographic location through the use of community radio stations besides the use of national radio stations for the whole country.
“The radios will also provide alternative learning, remote learning and blended learning to both formal learners and non-formal learners thereby bridging the gap affected by the increased drop-out rate due to the various disasters that have affected the country,” she added.
Acting permanent secretary in the ministry Mr Masocha said the Ministry has so far developed 3500 interactive lessons and managed to reach 55 percent of the children. Unicef representative Dr Tajudeen Oyewale was pleased to celebrate yet another milestone in the journey of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in the implementation of the catch-up strategy in Zimbabwe.
“The handover of solar radios we are witnessing today is another testimony of the Government of Zimbabwe’s commitment to the strategy which is addressing children’s learning loss during the Covid-19 pandemic. As Unicef we are strongly committed that every child has the right to education,” he said
Dr Oyewale hailed Minister Ndlovu and her team for the incredible strides made in carrying out the catch-up.
“Let me once again congratulate the ministry for the great efforts being made to enhance the quality of education for the children of Zimbabwe. With the sound partnership that exists between us, coupled with the support of our partners, I am confident that, together, we will take education to the next level,” he said.
A representative of the British foreign office Ms Geraldine O’ Callaghan said Britain remained committed to supporting all children in Zimbabwe to achieve their potential and be able to continue their learning no matter where they live- and even when they do not have access to power and connectivity.
“We remain committed, as the main bilateral donor for the education sector in Zimbabwe, to support the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to achieve its vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy education-focused goals,” she said.
This comes at a time President Mnangagwa is calling for re-engagement and engagement initiatives and it has re-opened and improved communication as the normalisation of relations takes shape.
In 2021, Unicef procured and distributed 3,000 solar radio sets to targeted disadvantaged primary schools and community learning circles across the country and schools in Tongogara camp to support the radio lessons programme which currently helps learners catch-up after schools reopen.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter