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Government has donated 90 computers to Mzimuni primary and secondary schools in Gwanda as part of the e-learning initiative run by the Office of the President and Cabinet .
The computers were handed over by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda recently.
Of the 90 computers, 80 were for the students and 10 were for teachers.
To sustain the project, a 6KW solar generator was installed together with charging and storage trolleys with adjustable purpose built desks and chairs, educational server with the application software to support the digital content for primary and secondary schools.
The students from both schools will get the digital skills passport upon completing their primary education.
Dr Sibanda said it was within the Government’s mandate to connect all schools and the nation at large as they advance towards embracing technology in the future.
“It is indeed a honour and a privilege for me to witness the historic e- learning project at Mzimuni schools, which started in the year 2000 when His Excellency President Robert Mugabe, through his visionary leadership embarked on this digital educational programme to make the nation an information technology hub,” he said.
“To date, nearly 1 000 schools have benefited so far from the presidential programme which is still ongoing.”
He said the Government was facilitating a national modernisation programme dubbed the “Zim Connect”, connecting all facets on the technological bandwagon.
“Under the auspices of the broad agenda, e-learning is one the project running under the Office of the President and Cabinet, not just to teach word processor but digitalising the learning platform and environment from the traditional book and chalk system to the electronic system,” said Dr Sibanda
He said Mzimuni primary and secondary schools were chosen because they were some of the remote schools in the province.
Apart from the e-Learning programme, Dr Sibanda said Government was also working with various ministries and local government to facilitate programmes such as online liquor licensing with the Ministry of Local Government while the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement is pushing for online land application and the Mines and Mining Development Ministry was working on online application of prospecting and mining licences.
He added that they have pioneered the e-hospital and e-health an online platform at Chitungwiza General Hospital.
He added that the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs was also working on online company registration and deeds transfer, while the State Procurement Board was introducing e-procurement and the Ministry of Home Affairs was looking at online visa application and travel clearance
Under the e-learning programme, the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services provided technical support and eLearning Solutions, a private contractor provided 21st century compliant digital education platform including the hardware, software and equipment for the schools.
- The writer is the editor for TechnoMag Zimbabwe’s Premier Technology Magazine, more www.technom.ag/8w or join us on our Facebook pagewww.facebook.com/technomagzw Email articles[at]technomag.co.zw tweet @TechnoMagZw
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