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aimed at strengthening bilateral co-operation in the area of computer-aided education for the youths.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Harare, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda described the Hole-in-the Wall project as “timely.”
He said it resonated well with the e-Government programme.
The e-Government programme is being spearheaded by the Office of the President and Cabinet as part of the modernising Government systems and operations.
“We are pleased indeed to enter into partnership with global friends such as India, who have taken the lead in the area of information technology, as we seek to achieve our goal of building a knowledge-based society upon which modern economies are anchored.
“This MOU shall be instrumental in fulfilling our shared objectives through spreading computer literacy among disadvantaged children and youths using ICTs,” he said.
Dr Sibanda said the MOU would also establish scalable models for further development, which impact on various facets of children’s lives.
“It will also motivate out-of-school children to enroll into school by creating positive attitudes and motivation for learning thus reducing the drop-out rate,” he said.
Dr Sibanda said the establishment of three Hole-in-the-Wall learning institutions in Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare would mark the pilot phase of the project.
“Similar learning stations will be subsequently set up in other provinces, as we roll out the project to more areas within the context of the broader e-Government programme.
“The successful implementation of this project will qualitatively and quantitatively improve our public service provision in the area of education, something we have always aspired for since the inception of the Results-Based Management Programme in 2005,” he said.
He said the MOU was a testimony of strong friendly relations between the two countries and indicative of further strengthening of bilateral co-operation.
“This comes in the background of growing trade and economic co-operation between our countries as evidenced by the recent massive investment in our iron and steel industry by Essar Africa Holdings,” said Dr Sibanda.
India’s Ambassador Mr Jeitendra Tripathi said his country wanted to share experi-ences, knowledge and techniques with Zimbabwe.
“Our relationship is not new because it stretches back to the colonial era and we want to be partners in progress.
“Education is key to every country hence the need to put more concentration on it,” he said.
Online Reporter