By Bernard Mutambudzi
President Emmerson Mnangagwa today launched the e-learning kits and donated over 500 000 exercise books which will modernize, transform and make the education sector more responsive and relevant.
The programme was launched under the theme ‘Building positive social impact for inclusive and equitable quality education: Everyone’s Responsibility”
“It is great pleasure that l address you at this launch of e-learning kits and exercise books which is in line with the Sustainable Smart Education Programme under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
“This program is one of the initial responses to my Government’s call to qualitatively transform, modernize and make the education sector more responsive and relevant,” said President.
He said the donation resonate well with the Government’s thrust and the national vision to become an upper middle income economy by 2030.
“As we forge towards the achievement of both quality and inclusive education we must provide the necessary teaching and learning resources,” said the President.
President said smart e-learning kits and exercise books would be useful in building a knowledge base for learners.
He added that the materials must be adaptable to our situation and touch on science, technology, ICTs, health, environment and gender, HIV and Aids, among other aspects.
‘My Government recognizes investment in education is a key strategy to reduce poverty and a vehicle for producing a qualified, skilled and capable human capital base,” said President.
He said Government is opening up platforms for companies to partner it on matters related to science, entrepreneurship, child welfare, gender equality, public health, environmental care and financial literacy, among others.
President implored administrators in both primary and secondary education system to undertake programmes and activities that purposely encourage scientific thinking, problem solving, innovation and inventions, amongst our young learners.
He said one of the key pillars of the competency-based curriculum is research and development which requires extensive electronic equipment as well as ICT infrastructure such as internet connectivity, to access critical information from the global village.
“Government will accelerate the provision of electricity and connectivity to schools, to enhance our e-learning and e-learning policy,” said the President.
He said Government remained committed to creating an environment that nurtures the dictates of competence based curriculum.
The materials would be distributed to all the schools in the ten provinces of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has a total of 8953 number of schools, 6,123 primary schools and 2830 secondary with a total enrolment of 4,3million learners.
