By Patience Chipembere
Cabinet has approved the National e- learning strategy for Zimbabwean schools which is part of the SMART Zimbabwe 2030 master plan.
Smart education seeks to increase the usage of ICT in the education sector regard less of geographical locations of economic circumstances.
Under the SMART programme each school is expected to be equipped with 41 networked computers, a server, a projector, printer, a white board and connectivity.
Government has said the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) would continue to provide gadgets to schools particularly in the rural areas under the Connect a School-Connect a community Programme formulated by the International Telecommunications Unions ITU).
The National Broadcaster will provide dedicated radio and television channels for e-Learning purposes.
The 2021 National e-Learning Programme has the following targets: connection of 1 500 schools to the broadband; electrification of 434 schools; manufacture of up to 150 000 devices as per order by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education; development of mobile applications for use on the existing e-Learning management system within 45 days; e-Learning content development by instructional designers which should be in place by June 2021; capacitation of 3 000 teachers with basic digital skills by December 2021; and delivery of e-Learning through audios, videos and text (multimedia) interactive materials.
