Published by the government of Zimbabwe
20 February 2008
Harare — Government has launched a programme to promote the use of solar energy as an alternative source of energy for computers in schools around the country, in conjunction with Mukonitronics Private Limited.
The programme to be spread to all the country's provinces is also being implemented with the Zimbabwe Academic Research Network.
Officially launching the programme at Dzivaresekwa 2 High School yesterday, the provincial education director for Harare, Mr Tomax Doba said the launch was in line with the ministry's efforts to make sure that all graduates from the education system were computer literate.
"We are moving in to promote the use of solar power as an alternative to hydro electricity supply that has been erratic in the country. The ministry feels there should be no excuse for schools not to take lessons in computers because of power outages when we can harness solar energy.
"The launch demonstrates Govern-ment commitment to advancing computer literacy which has seen the ministry coming with model schools for teaching computers in provinces," he said.
Mr Doba said his ministry had started a programme to train more computer teachers so as to curb the current shortages that has hit the country.
"Government has also made it a policy that all graduates leaving teachers' colleges are computer literate. Now that the teachers are coming I want to appeal to school development authorities, parents and school heads to secure more computers so that all pupils have a chance to interact with the machines," he said.
The chairman of Mukonitronics, Mr Lovemore Mukono said it was his company's vision to promote the teaching and use of electronics in the country to curb the over reliance on western developments.
"The solar power and computerisation programme which is being run under our social responsibility programme -- Society for Electronic Technology in Africa -- wants to impact the use of technology within schools. The vision is to make the computer not only a tool for use in schools but also something that can be manufactured by school children.
"It is part of our contribution to the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals by the country and has seen our engineers teaching children in schools such as Girls High, Churchill High and Grange Primary Schools in manufacturing appropriate technology for educational use," he said.
Science and Technology Development secretary Professor Francis Gudyanga said his ministry would support efforts to promote the use of information technology in school.
He said he was happy with the level of support the ministry was receiving from indigenous private companies.
"My ministry takes the promotion of the use of ICTs seriously as it helps to bridge the digital gap. The launch is a celebration of two of Government wishes that are to promote the use of solar energy and the teaching of computers in schools," he said.
A model computer teaching school in the province, Dzivaresekwa High 2 is a beneficiary of President Mugabe's schools computer programme that has seen 510 schools benefiting in Harare.
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