Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
PRIMARY and Secondary Education Deputy Minister, Angeline Gata, has welcomed Government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the protection of children in the digital space.
She said proposed measures to regulate minors’ access to social media must prioritise learner safety while promoting responsible technology use.
Zimbabwe is currently crafting a Child Online Protection Policy Framework that seeks to regulate how minors access social media platforms, amid growing concerns of exposure to harmful online content, cyberbullying and other digital risks.
Deputy Minister Gata said her ministry supports initiatives that safeguard learners while ensuring that technology continues to enhance education.
“I welcome ongoing efforts by the Government to strengthen the protection of children in the digital space,” she said.
“My priority as a parent, and as an authority that leads education, is to ensure that learners benefit from technology while being safeguarded from harmful content that can negatively affect their well being, values and academic focus.”
She said the education sector recognises the importance of technology in modern learning but emphasised that it must be used responsibly in line with the country’s educational values.
“Within the framework of Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Curriculum, we emphasise the development of learners who are not only digitally competent but also grounded in our national values, Ubuntu/Hunhu hwedu, our identity and responsible citizenship,” she said.
“Technology must, therefore, be used as a tool for learning, innovation and national development, rather than becoming a source of harm or distraction.
“We need gadgets for our online learning content.”
She noted that while social media platforms offer educational and communication benefits, the increasing exposure of minors to inappropriate content and cyberbullying has raised serious concerns.
“While social media has many educational and communication benefits, the growing exposure of minors to inappropriate content, cyberbullying and other online risks is a matter that requires careful policy attention,” she said.
“Measures that promote child online protection, digital responsibility and parental guidance are therefore important.”
However, the Deputy Minister stressed that any policy response should also focus on empowering learners with the skills needed to navigate the digital world safely.
“At the same time, I believe that solutions should include digital literacy education, guidance and counselling, and responsible technology use so that learners are empowered to navigate the digital world safely,” she said.
Mathew Masinge