By Staff Reporter
UNICEF on Tuesday handed over 815 laptops, 708 projectors and 2,112 tablets to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, marking a significant step in strengthening equitable access to quality Digital Learning.
The devices will be distributed to 113 disadvantaged schools across seven districts in Manicaland and Matabeleland South provinces, supporting national priorities to expand the integration of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in teaching and learning, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
This initiative was made possible through the support of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). The beneficiary schools had previously benefited from a school solarisation programme funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), as well as the installation of offline servers hosting the Learning Passport (LP), a free Digital Learning platform.
These investments ensured reliable power supply and access to quality digital content, even in low- or no-connectivity environments, hence reducing the digital divide between urban and rural schools.
By providing ICT devices, UNICEF and partners are completing the full set of infrastructure required to effectively implement digital learning and maximise the use of the Learning Passport platform at school level. This strategic selection of schools builds on prior investments, ensuring that learners in disadvantaged communities are not left behind in Zimbabwe’s digital transformation.
To ensure sustainability and effective utilisation, structured teacher training will follow the distribution of devices, focusing on pedagogical integration of digital tools and practical classroom application. In addition, two user manuals have been developed to first guide the management of the devices and instructional use basic maintenance guidelines. The second manual will also empower the teachers for the application of Blended Learning approach.
Fiachra McAsey, UNICEF Zimbabwe Representative Acting-In-Charge, said: “This handover marks an important milestone in our collective effort to ensure that every child, regardless of where they live, has access to quality digital learning. By complementing earlier investments in solar power and offline digital platforms with ICT devices, we are enabling schools to move from access to effective use of technology in the classroom. This is about building resilient, inclusive and future-ready education systems that leave no learner behind.”
Taungana Ndoro, the Director of Communications and Advocacy, in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said, “The Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, warmly welcomes this strategic contribution from UNICEF and the Global Partnership for Education, which directly advances our national vision for a modern, inclusive, and equitable education system. This provision of essential ICT tools is not merely an allocation of devices, but a pivotal investment in empowering both our learners and educators in underserved communities.”
Taungana added that the handover represents a critical phase in the Government’s deliberate journey to bridge the digital divide and ensure that every child, in every province, is equipped with the skills and resources to thrive in the 21st century.
He said: “We are committed to ensuring the sustainable and effective integration of this technology into our curriculum, building upon the foundation of solar power and digital platforms, to foster a generation of future-ready Zimbabweans.”
“Access to quality digital education is a critical part of equipping learners with future-ready skills. This handover marks an important moment in transforming Zimbabwe’s education system through the effective use of technology in classrooms. GPE is dedicated to building resilient and inclusive education systems that prepare all learners for the future,” said Belay Addise, Regional Manager for East and Southern Africa at the Global Partnership for Education.
Key Highlights
- 815 laptops, 708 projectors and 2,112 tablets were handed over to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to reduce the digital divide between urban and rural areas
- Benefiting 113 disadvantaged schools across seven districts in Manicaland and Matabeleland South
- Complements earlier investments in solarisation and offline servers for the Learning Passport, providing full experience of digital learning.
- Ensures schools move from access to effective use of digital learning tools and platforms.
Structured blended teaching, training and user manuals are provided to support sustainability
