As the world hurtles deeper into the digital age, Zimbabwe is being urged to ensure that its youngest learners aren’t left behind. At the 3rd Annual Association for Education in Zimbabwe (AEZ) National Education Expo held in Harare, the spotlight turned to the future of learning — and it’s wired, connected, and driven by innovation.
Honourable Tatenda Mavetera, the Deputy Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services (MICTPCS), delivered a passionate call to action, urging a full-scale digital transformation of Zimbabwe’s education system starting as early as Early Childhood Development (ECD).
The event, which brought together education practitioners, government officials, and stakeholders from across the country, was headlined by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Honourable Torerai Moyo. Together, the two ministries presented a united front in reimagining the future of education.
Digital Tools as Equalisers
In her keynote address, Hon. Mavetera emphasized that technology should no longer be viewed as a luxury but as a right for every learner. “We do not see ICT as just a tool,” she said, “but as a gateway to equitable and quality education for all Zimbabwean children.”
She highlighted the government’s commitment, under the leadership of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, to narrowing the digital divide and ensuring that children from both rural and urban areas have equal access to learning opportunities. This, she said, is not only a developmental priority but a national imperative.
Facing the Realities on the Ground
Acknowledging the hurdles ahead, Hon. Mavetera outlined a number of critical challenges facing the education sector in its digital journey — including disparities in internet connectivity between urban and rural schools, limited access to digital devices, inconsistent power supply, and a lack of digital literacy among educators.
But she didn’t stop at highlighting problems. The Deputy Minister proposed a range of practical solutions, calling for strategic investment in infrastructure, increased training for teachers in digital tools, and strengthened collaboration between ministries and the private sector.
Preparing Students for a Digital World
As she wrapped up her address, Hon. Mavetera made a bold recommendation: integrating ICT modules — such as artificial intelligence (AI), coding, and robotics — into the national curriculum as compulsory subjects. “The world has gone digital,” she said. “We must not just keep up, we must lead where we can.”
Her comments drew applause from an audience that included school administrators, teachers, ICT professionals, and education advocates.
Whole-of-Government Approach
The event underscored a growing synergy between the Ministry of ICTPCS and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE), reflecting the government’s “whole-of-government” approach — a model that encourages cross-sectoral collaboration in implementing national priorities.
For Hon. Mavetera, that collaboration is more than a policy directive — it’s a shared vision. A vision of classrooms where students in the remotest parts of the country can code, create, and connect. A vision where no child is left behind simply because they lack a screen or signal.
As Zimbabwe works toward its Vision 2030 goals, the message from the National Education Expo was clear: the digital revolution must start in the classroom.
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