Teachers urged to impart computer skills to pupils

behalf by the principal director in his office, Mr Benson Dube, at a graduation ceremony of 48 teachers and headmasters at Manqe Secondary School in Tsholotsho on Friday.
Dr Nkomo is funding the construction of Manqe.
The teachers and headmasters, who were drawn from schools around Tsholotsho district, were the first to complete the one-week course successfully in the country.
Dr Nkomo said the knowledge gained by teachers should be imparted to their pupils and colleagues.
“As the first group to undergo training at this e-learning programme in Tsholotsho, I expect you to cascade what you have learnt to your teaching colleagues and all school children at your schools,” he said.
Dr Nkomo took the opportunity to express his gratitude for the work done by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology in facilitating the provision of ICTs in the area.
“Let me take this opportunity, to express my profound gratitude to the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and its Department of ICT Services not only for installing the equipment and computers at Manqe Secondary School, but also for conducting the training in e-learning for this pioneer group,” he said.
Dr Nkomo thanked the teaching staff and children at Manqe Secondary School for hosting the e-learning programme and urged the school to continue partnering Government in the provision of ICT education.
“I would like to encourage you to continue this collaborative spirit with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and your sister schools in Tsholotsho, as the country continues to promote e-learning in our education system,” he said.
The director of ICT Services in the ministry, Mrs Beullah Chirume, said the project was in line with the vision of Government to achieve computer literacy for all by 2020.
“I am proud of this project as it is well in line with our vision of computer literacy for all by 2020.
“Developing a school means developing the community and in the end the nation,” she said.
Mrs Chirume said the ICT literacy rate stood at 15 percent and the ministry’s target for this year was to achieve 20 percent.
She said the Manqe project cost $32 000, which involved the sourcing of the 41 computers, a printer, a projector and VSAT for the Internet.
“We procured 41 computers which cost $700 each, a printer which cost $800, a projector cost $1 000 and VSAT cost $1 500.
“VSAT stands for Very Small Aperture Terminal, which is used for the provision of satellite Internet access to remote locations,” Mrs Chirume said.
Speaking at the same occasion the solutions director at E-learning Solutions, the company that trained the teachers, Mr Itai Masimirembwa, said the main goal of teaching the course was to transform the education system in the country.
“We seek to reform the education system in the country in order for it to face the challenges of the 21st century.
“These 48 graduates will contribute in tackling the challenges,” he said.
Mr Masimirembwa said the participants were among many in the world that have completed the course.
“You have joined 10 million people around the world with the same course” he said.
Mr Masimirembwa said investing in education would ensure the future of the country.
He went on to donate a digital content licence for e-learning software to two schools, Mavela Secondary School and Tsholotsho High School worth $3 000.
Son to the Acting President Mr Jabulani Nkomo thanked the support of the community as it brought great joy to him and the family.
“We are proud as a family that this school’s development is moving at break neck speed.
“The dream is for the school to be the hub of ICTs in the district, province and even the nation.
“We would like to thank the Government for contributing in the development of the community of Tsholotsho,” he said.
The headmaster of Tsholotsho High School, Mr Sicelo Dube, said before the course he was afraid to admit that he did not know how to use a computer.
“Without that knowledge I have been embarrassed on many occasions because I did not know how to use a computer. I could not even switch it on,” he said.
The participants went through a course called Intel Teach Getting Started Course, Intensive teacher training programme.
The course was based on the four Cs, critical thinking, collaboration, communication skills and creativity.
The e-leaning course is student centred where students discover their understanding of subjects through the interaction they have with the computer and e-learning software.