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Patrick Chitumba ,[email protected]

SHURUGWI has become the latest district to benefit from the Government’s school computerisation programme as Zimbabwe continues to record milestones in the adoption of Information Communication Technologies (ICT).

The development of a technology-driven economic base is at the core of Government’s vision of becoming an upper middle-income society by 2030.

It is with this in mind that Kushinga Secondary School in Shurugwi District recently received 20 laptops, a projector, a printer and a whiteboard from the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube.

Already five other schools in the province have benefited from the ICT programme, which follows the recent launch of the Zimbabwe Fiber Optic Network project, three policy documents and a computer lab by President Mnangagwa earlier, as the Second Republic walks the talk in modernising the country’s economy.

During the launch, President Mnangagwa donated 250 laptops to schools in the Midlands Province in the eight districts, which are now being distributed to primary and secondary schools in the province.

Government is facilitating establishment of state-of-the-art ICT laboratories in schools countrywide to renew learning methods and establish more active collaboration of students and the simultaneous acquisition of technological knowledge.

Michael Siziba, a Form 4 pupil at the school, expressed joy over the ICT consignment, which he said will go a long way in advancing the education system for fellow pupils.

He said ICTs would assist their teachers in designing and delivering more effective and personalised instruction, assessing and monitoring their progress in and outside the classroom.

“We are happy to be receiving these laptops because we have been lagging behind in terms of ICT gaps. This is a good initiative for us because we are now able to access the internet and access the laptop more easily than before when there was a shortage of these,” said the lad.

Elizabeth Shoko, another pupil, said ICTs were a powerful tool capable of transforming education and enhancing learning outcomes.

“As a result of this technology, we can access information, collaborate with peers and teachers, develop critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities, and express our creativity and innovation,” she said.

“I think this will play a key role in achieving and contributing to the country’s growth because the programme has come to us in remote areas.”

Shurugwi South legislator, Mr Wilson Mhuri, said the donated equipment was a boost to the implementation of the Heritage-Based Education framework in rural schools.

“This is a good initiative and we want to thank the Government for remembering this school. This development will play a key role in contributing to the dictates of National Development Strategy and bridge the gaps in the education sector,” he said.

Mr Mhuri commended Government for its commitment to a digital economy in line with the goals of the Second Republic.