Story by Ruvarashe Mariga
GOVERNMENT is on a drive to equip Zimbabweans with digital skills to increase the country’s global competitiveness and bridge the skills gap.
Government has partnered the Computer Society of Zimbabwe to harness the International Computer Driver’s Licence (ICDL) programme to empower citizens.
This includes empowering teachers with basic computer skills, paving way for advanced skills like coding and robotics.
An Annual ICDL Forum held in Harare this Thursday, saw Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister, Honourable Tatenda Mavetera emphasising the importance of digital skills in achieving Vision 2030.
“We, as the Ministry of ICT, have an MOU with the Computer Society of Zimbabwe for us to be making sure that at least we deploy digital skills in Zimbabwe through ICDL. This programme is the International Computer Drivers Licence, which is very critical in that it is a course that one has to undergo for them at least to be certified internationally in terms of digital skills.
“For us in Zimbabwe, we are very happy that now we need to also make sure that at least our teachers will also be able to have this. We need to go on the foundation to go to the basics, whereby if we’re going to train our teachers, this will also be able to relay to our students,” she said.
ICDL Executive Director, Viola Dondo highlighted the initiative will focus on training teachers, enabling them to effectively integrate technology into their teaching methods.
“We have a project that we will be starting soon with the Ministry of ICT, where we are starting with the teachers because we believe if we keep the teachers and they are equipped, and be able to then help the students we will be able to start right. But then at the same time we will also be looking at the community, the ordinary citizens. It’s a programme that gives them basic skills so that they can be able to interact and to know their way around the digital space,” she highlighted.
Computer Society of Zimbabwe vice president, Freddy Ndhlovu noted the collaboration will promote digital literacy and bridge the skills gap.
“We decided to partner with the Ministry of ICT because we actually intend to bridge the digital divide and we also intend to make sure that our digital skills in the country are actually enhanced. Every citizen is supposed to know how to use digital skills. As you know, the theme of the government is that no one should be left behind and we believe that when we have a citizen with a digital skill, they will actually be able to also participate in any government activity from wherever they are,” he highlighted.
Government’s commitment to digital transformation is expected to propel the country towards achieving the envisaged digital economy and upper middle income society by 2030.
