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Herald Reporter
Innovation is a key driver to the economic and human development agenda, Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere has said.
Speaking yesterday at the 7th TelOne graduation ceremony, the Minister said Covid-19 had made the Government’s quest to have a functional digital economy more urgent and this needed support of relevant skills to design, install, maintain and support the digital infrastructure and devices as well as the software.
“When the President launched the National Developmental Strategy 1, he identified a digital economy and human capital development as the critical priorities that are going to help to transform the National Developmental Strategy 1 as we journey towards Vision 2030.
“In terms of human capital development, this has seen TelOne Centre for Learning having enrolment across the country by training and equipping Zimbabweans across all geographical provinces, across all genders, and make sure that all provinces build battalions, brigades and armies of digital ICT experts who are going to serve our great nation.
The TelOne Centre for Learning supports the Presidential mandate to facilitate the deployment and growth of ICT in Zimbabwe, said the Minister.
A smart Zimbabwe masterplan was developed which in the course of 2018 up to last year and has ensured the Cabinet’s approval for the implementation of the smart education pillar for the implementation of national e-learning strategy, smart agriculture, smart city, smart transport and smart health.
“All these pillars now become guiding pedestals that will be able to revolutionise the education sector through the classroom management system.
“I have joy in launching the TelOne smart education technology strategy and system which we are hoping that as we journey towards vision 2030, it will be used across the education sector.
“This will then bridge the rural-urban divide and ensure that the pupil, student and lecturer or teacher relationship is accelerated to ensure universal access to education through digital technology.
TelOne managing director Mrs Chipo Mtasa said the institution has positioned itself strongly to deliver academic programmes which are absorbing students straight from high school.
“It remains our mission to maintain our lead position in the development of telecommunication and broadly information communication technology skills for Zimbabwe and beyond,” she said.
A total of 166 graduates were conferred, with 26 students present and the rest were part of the graduation virtually.
TelOne board chairman Dr Douglas Zimbango said the programme’s endeavour was to fulfil the skills deficit as identified in the National Skills Audit Report while also aligning to education 5.0 which speaks to innovation, problem solving and value creation.
Online Reporter