The government’s rural schools ICT rollout continues. The latest beneficiary is Mlomwe Primary School in Bulilima District, Matabeleland South, which received 10 laptops, one projector, and one whiteboard.
The donation is part of “ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban learners.” You know the spiel.
It’s a good initiative. We’ve seen thousands of devices distributed over the past few years under the Smart Zimbabwe 2030 plan. But for those of us who’ve been through government schooling, it’s hard not to ask: will the kids actually benefit?
At my old high school, we once got shiny new computers which were fast for their time. But most ended up tucked away for teacher use. Fortunately, students had the older computers to play around with, but still.
Some schools had it worse, with donated computers gathering dust in storage, never unpacked. Often it comes down to the usual culprits: no electricity, no internet, no plan.
The power issue remains a massive challenge. But on the internet side, we’re seeing a potential breakthrough. With Starlink now licensed and being deployed to connect remote schools, the infrastructure gap could finally be closing.
The challenge is that Starlink isn’t free. And while the government might cover initial setup, keeping the monthly subscription going could be a real challenge, especially for schools in deep rural areas without reliable funding.
The hardware is arriving, yes. The next test is making sure it’s not just symbolic.
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