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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira has hailed the Republic of Korea and its technical partner, UNESCO, for supporting the country’s Education design 5.0 through the provision of state-of-the-art Information Communication and Technology (ICT) infrastructure.

Addressing Masvingo Teachers’ College staff during the official launch of the model institution on the use of ICT in teacher education at Masvingo Teachers’ College on Monday, Prof Murwira underscored the need for the country’s education to reflect the correct design if it has to “fit for purpose”.

“Thank you to UNESCO –Korea Funds In Trust (KFIT) project on ICT Transforming Education in Africa”, for contributing to the cornerstone of physical infrastructure to deliver education 5.0,” said Prof Murwira.

“The ICT equipment you are handing over today supports one of the Ministry’s policy priorities of facilitating learning environment through provision of adequate infrastructure,” he said.

He said technology was a tool used to accomplish practical tasks, a system used in the modern world.
He added that through education 5.0 technological advancement remained key, as the correct design.
“When one talks about appropriate technology in developing countries, appropriate means anything from to solar electricity, espoused by Mae Jemison.”

He said the Government had a vision of developing institutional infrastructure that make Zimbabwe competitive in the 21st century and beyond.

“We want to train Education 5.0 teacher who has to take into account the new forms of knowledge and competences, and then missions of schools. We should embrace Ls meaning, learning, literacy and life skills

“The new design should be an e-teacher, not only to use digital technologies, tools, resources but also to change pedagogy, integrate ICT as technologies and more importantly, as tools for pedagogical enrichment.

“I say congratulation to Masvingo Teachers’ College for being chosen as “Model Institution on the use of ICT in the Teacher Education” in Zimbabwe,” he said.

He said Government had allocated US$3 million to equip teachers’ colleges with physical infrastructure in line with the new education design.

“Beside Masvingo Teachers’, other colleges that now train science secondary teachers like Mkoba Teachers’ College in Gweru, Joshua Mqabuko Polytechnic in Wanda, Hillside Teaches’ College in Bulawayo and Mutare Teachers’ College have also benefited,” he said.

He said the Government cannot afford to keep training science teachers outside the country, as before when science teachers were sent to a Cuban University for training.

He said Masvingo Teachers’ College was the first to enrol secondary school teacher –trainees in science subjects with the first batch of 235 already doing teaching practice.

Across the country, he said, selected colleges had a total of 600 student teachers doing science training.
Republic of Korea Ambassador His Excellency, Mr Cho Jaichel said his country was enjoying cordial relations with Zimbabwe and had a passion in helping the country attain certain level of technological advancement, in support of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision 2030.

“Zimbabwe has great potential and I am convinced that with good ICT infrastructure in education, the chances to achieve its 2030 vision-upper middle class economy are high. We have symbiotic relationship with Zimbabwe and its kind people.
My country is ready to assist the country in achieving improved access to ICT,” said Mr Jaichel.

UNESCO regional director and representative to SADC, Professor Hubert Gijzen said the ICT programme was benefiting three countries in Africa and partners had injected a total of US$6 million.

“This programme is covering Rwanda, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The total fund is US$6 million and Zimbabwe has received US$3 million worth of ICT infrastructure,” said Prof Gijzen.

The media had a chance to tour where 40 state of the art desktop computers and 15 shot-throw projectors were installed.
ICT lecturer, Mr Peter Gwede said almost all disciplines were now digitalised as all lectures were done using the gadgets.
“Out of 40 desktops, 20 are in the library for research purposes while the other 20 are for teaching and learning. The shot-throw projectors are in most lecture rooms,” said Mr Gwede.