The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
GOVERNMENT remains committed to bridging the current 90 percent deficit of Information Communication Technologies in schools through the Computer Lab per School Programme, Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere has said.
In a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Honourable Dingimuzi Phuti in Chimanimani on Monday, Minister Muswere said the ICT Lab per School project is will bridge the ICT deficit.
The sentiments were aired as the official launch of ICT laboratories at Ndima Primary, Mutambara, Lydia Chimonyo and Nhedziwa High Schools.
The four are some of the 40 Manicaland schools that have benefitted from the programme which is being run in partnership with regulatory body, Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ).
A total of 130 schools across the country have benefitted from the programme. Government has a target of connecting 1 500 schools.
Each school received 30 brand new laptops for its ICT laboratory.
Minister Muswere applauded the programme, saying it is an important milestone as it compliments Government’s efforts of attaining an upper middle income economy by 2030.
“The mission of the ICT Ministry is to transform Zimbabwe into a knowledge based society through the use of ICTs and enhance the country’s competitiveness in the global village.
“The ICT lab per school programme will incubate and create the next generation of ICT geniuses. Those who are capable of coming up with ICT solutions that dovetail with Vision 2030 as enunciated by His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, are in our midst,” he said.
Minister Muswere said for far too long, the knowledge of ICTs has been packaged as an elitist privilege, with many remote areas being left out.
“This status quo has been disrupted by President Mnangagwa whose clarion call is that no one and no place should be left behind.
‘‘As a ministry, we are in full support of this position and we are on a mission to equip and empower present and future generations with ICTs through rolling out ICT infrastructure solutions in Zimbabwe,” he said.
ln a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Mr Alfred Marisa; Potraz’s Director-General, Dr Gift Callisto Machengete said the setting up of more school computer laboratories is in the pipeline as his organisation’s intention is to equip up to 1 500 schools countrywide.
“We are barely on the 10 percent mark in the country, but for those schools that are yet to benefit, they should not worry as we are heading their way,” he said.
Dr Machengete said as the ICT regulator, one of POTRAZ’s goals is to provide inclusive ICT access in education.
“Government is stepping up efforts to bring ICT to every learner in the spirit of leaving no place and no one behind. This is in line with both the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and NDS1.
“Through initiatives such as the Computer Lab per School Programme, we are indeed eradicating the digital divide between urban and rural schools, thereby ensuring equity in ICT access and use among our children,” he said.
Dr Machengete said the Covid-19 pandemic taught the country the centrality of ICT in today’s classroom.
“Blended education where learning takes place through a combination of physical and online classes is the only way in which our children can keep pace with their counterparts in other regions of the world where technology is playing a pivotal role in shaping education,” he said.
