Chronicle EditorJudith Phiri in Malanswazwi, Bulilima
THREE schools in Bulilima District, Matabeleland South Province yesterday received 30 laptops each as part of Government’s efforts to promote a digital economy and human capital development.
The laptops also came with a projector, printer and a white board for each of the schools namely Sikhathini High School, Mathambo Primary School and Malalume Secondary School. The drive for the economy to go digital is in line with Vision 2030, a development that will see the roll-out of more computer laboratories at schools across the country.
After touring and officially launching the ICT laboratories of the three schools, Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Deputy Minister Cde Dingumuzi Phuti said the occasion marked yet another critical milestone in digital transformation in the country as it undergoes immense technological change.
The Deputy Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Bulilima West under Zanu-PF said: “As a Ministry we are rolling out the Smart Zimbabwe Master Plan which we are implementing jointly with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education focusing on ensuring that human capital development as one of the priorities of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) succeeds.”
He said the target was to equip all schools in the country with modern ICT laboratories (labs) and it was testimony to Government’s commitment in terms of implementing an approach that ensures no one and place is left behind. Deputy Minister Phuti said the initiative was one of the main ingredients of ensuring that the youths are ICT enabled regardless of being in the rural or urban areas.
“Just like children in the urban areas, students from Bulilima and any other rural areas are being equipped to be ready to participate and complete in the digital economy. Developing critical digital skills and building the ICT capability of youths is part of our priorities and commitments as Government to drive broader efforts to build a digital economy enabled youth.”
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Evelyn Ndlovu said as a Ministry they were grateful about the computerisation programme being carried out in schools that would ensure children even those in rural schools were ICT literate.
She said as Government they were stepping up efforts to impart digital skills to the pupils, students, learners and including the teachers so that the country could achieve a digital economy by the year 2030.
“All this is part of President Mnangagwa’s commitment in ensuring that Zimbabwe becomes a digital economy by the year 2030. We are looking forward to the training of teachers so that our teachers are conversant with the digital world and then impart the knowledge to the students as we leave no one behind and no place behind,” said Minister Ndlovu.
She said as a Ministry they were looking forward to supplying online learning device sticks so that students can have access to recorded learns anytime and wherever they will be.
The Minister said as Government they wanted to make sure that the education system is digitalised so that they reduce the burden on the teacher and children.
Malalume Secondary School deputy headmaster, Mr William Banana expressed gratitude for his school and the other two schools.
He said the laptops would be put into good use for the pupils to access world-class learning environment and content which will serve to bridge two divides.
A senior village head, Handson Moyo said they were grateful for the computerisation of the schools, a development that will see their children having access to the digital world.
Online Reporter