dyton mupawaenda
Mukudzei Chingwere-Herald Reporter
THE first schools robotics competition in Zimbabwe opened yesterday in Harare with Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi-Chiwenga, wife to Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, officiating.
Speaking at Westridge High School, Col Baloyi-Chiwenga said she was honoured to show support for Government programmes meant to ensure the success of the Education 5.0 model.
She noted that the national educational model had been successfully configured to answer the country’s challenges as well as to inform the national development strategy.
Col Baloyi-Chiwenga is involved in education at a practical level being a founding director of Chivaraidze Academy, the school that was established in Goromonzi as part of VP Chiwenga’s family philanthropic work.
“Under the model the universities have been configured to drive innovation in tertiary education for national development and the country’s industrialisation agenda,” said Col Baloyi-Chiwenga.
“Subsequently, primary and secondary schools are warming up to the calls by the Government to develop the country through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). This will ensure promotion and creation of an innovative mind from an early stage.
“We are all gathered here for the first ever robotics competition to be held within the borders of our nation. We shall all look at this day in future and be very proud to tell everyone around us that we were there when it all began”.
Early this year, four children from Chivaraidze Primary School attended the International Avishkaar Game League Robotics Competition in New Delhi, and Col Baloyi-Chiwenga is happy that such a competition is now being held in Zimbabwe.
She said the competition would not just witness machines in motion but celebrate the culmination of countless hours of dedication, teamwork, and passion.
“Each robot here represents a story of perseverance, problem-solving, and the relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Col Baloyi-Chiwenga.
“In the arena, you will witness more than just competition, you will see the embodiment of human imagination and technical prowess. From autonomous navigation to intricate manipulations.
“Every robot showcases the limitless possibilities of what happens when minds collaborate and ideas take flight.
“When the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education unveiled the heritage-based curriculum, the primary objective was to ensure that pupils acquire skills, values and attitudes for life through integrating and reinforcing a strong scientific and technological bias as part of the Government’s skills development strategy.
“This is a deliberate move to prepare students for the highly digitalised world that awaits them as they leave school. So learning robotics and coding is no longer an option but a need for everyone who wants to make it in this technologically advanced world.
“To our participants: You are the trailblazers of tomorrow. Your hard work and determination have brought you here today, and regardless of the outcome, you are all winners for embracing the spirit of innovation and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in robotics,” said Col Baloyi-Chiwenga.
Online Reporter