Online ReporterMashudu Mambo, Sunday News Reporter
THE Zimbabwe National Army Schools and Welfare Trust (ZNASWT) in collaboration with the School Development Committee (SDC), has constructed a two-classroom block at Imbizo Garrison Primary School on the outskirts of Bulawayo.
The new facility, which was officially commissioned last Friday, is set to benefit Early Childhood Development (ECD) pupils, enhancing their learning environment.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Director of the Army Education Corps, Colonel Abnel Makaripe, said the military is committed to not only improving the educational infrastructure but equipping learners with essential information communication technology (ICT) skills.
“We are seized with the issue of ICT in our schools and our goal is to migrate from the traditional practices and introduce e-learning packages. A number of our schools, if not all, have the modern white boards and we are currently using the e-learning package while teachers are delivering lessons,” he said.
“We are set to deliver interactive boards which will enable our students to do experiments and enhance their education through the various features that these boards offer,” he said.
Col Makaripe said the army’s goal is to ensure all its schools become fully e-learning compliant by December this year.
“Our target is to ensure that all our formal schools are e-learning compliant and that we have trained personnel.
There are several workshops that we are running for our teachers to equip them with the relevant skills for the e-learning package,” he said.
Col Makaripe said the commissioning of the early childhood block is a crucial step in ensuring that they support the pupils.
“This is an important milestone worth celebrating given that access to education is a basic human right that is enshrined in our Constitution. As you are aware, equipping and modernising the education system is one of the key elements that spur the country towards the achievement of Vision 2030.
“An adequately supported education system is expected to churn out students who will play their part in bringing about innovations that will solve societal problems,” he said.
Col Makaripe further noted that several other educational projects are currently underway across different army cantonments.
“We have several projects in other cantonment areas being spearheaded by the ZNASWT board. These include the construction of classroom blocks at Parachute Primary School, construction of a purpose-built school at Ngezi Barracks, Magunje Barracks and Chitekedza Barracks,” he said.
Local community leaders and stakeholders welcomed the initiative, commending the army’s dedication to education development.
Mtshokotshoko Extension village head, Mr Misheck Khumalo applauded the efforts by the army in empowering the pupils.
“I am delighted that the army has delivered its promise, and this is a crucial step in ensuring that our children are empowered. I believe that when our children are empowered, we are also empowered,” he said.
Similarly, School Development Committee (SDC) member Catherine Tsiaga lauded the collaborative effort between parents and the army, which ensured the project’s success despite challenges along the way.
“We faced several obstacles during the construction process, but through teamwork and determination, we have finally completed the classroom block. We hope other schools will take inspiration from this project,” she said.
