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Arron Nyamayaro

They always say catch them young.

Recently David Livingstone Primary School hosted an anti-drug awareness campaign where Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) brought inmates, including a choir and drug and substance abuse convicts.

The event was punctuated by performances and awareness time, but what made the day interesting was when pupils showcased their Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) skills.

The pupils acted as sound engineers for the PA system s.

ZPCS national spokesperson Superintendent Meya Khanyezi, hailed the kids for their skills and urged parents and guardians to guard children from committing crime.

“We have been pleased with David Livingstone Primary School pupils and their teachers,” said Supt Kanyezi.

“Special mention goes to the kids who were behind the sound system.

“It is pleasing to note that we have children with skills in ICT.

“We want our children to continue with their education and be protected from drug and substance abuse that has left several pupils failing to attend lessons.”

Kanyezi urged parents and guardians to prevent their children from being lured into drug and substance abuse and to closely monitor their behaviour.

However, according to ICT adviser Harriet Price it is no longer simply a case of thinking in terms of the benefits that an ICT-rich educational experience brings to children.

She insists that technology is now such an important part of children’s everyday lives that a learning environment without it would be completely out of touch with their own realities.

A former primary school ICT coordinator, Harriet now works in Cambridgeshire as an ICT adviser.

Everyday use of ICT

‘Staff at both centres have really got to grips with using ICT as an everyday part of their practice,’ says Harriet who supports staff at both centres by leading training sessions, modelling lessons, making sure the necessary software and hardware is available and ready for children and adults to use, while also helping staff develop their own ICT skills.

‘Staff now use ICT for everything from planning, to enhancing teaching and play; not to mention making the centre’s administration more efficient.

They have really taken ownership of the technology in an enthusiastic and efficient way.’