Minister of Transport and Communications says it is imperative that all pupils in the country have access to Information Communication Technology (ICT) following the recent introduction of ICT as a compulsory subject in the syllabus.
Speaking during the handover of a state of the art Computer Laboratory for the visually impaired and a braille printer to Sefula Secondary School in Mongu District, Western Province, Mutotwe Kafwaya said this is to meet the objective of the universal access program which is to promote the extension of ICT services to unserved and under-served areas.
Mr. Kafwaya stated that the Computer laboratory which was set up by the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA), has been done under phase two of the Universal Access Fund program, Connecting Learning Institutions project.
“I have learnt that Computer Laboratory that is being launched today was established by the Government through (ZICTA) under the Phase Two of the Universal Access Fund programme – Connecting Learning Institutions project.”
“The computer laboratory comprises 11 Computers valued at K148, 500 and a Braille Printer worth K1, 300,000. Further, I am reliably informed that Senanga Special School which caters for pupils with disabilities has also received 15 Computers, an ordinary printer and an overhead projector all worth K170, 300,” Mr. Kafwaya stated.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kafwaya disclosed that Mandanga Secondary school in Mongu district has also benefited from phase two of the project for connecting learning instructions which was implemented in 2019.
He said this is a clear demonstration of government’s committed towards delivering development to the citizens without leaving anyone behind.
“The school received 20 Computers and 1 ordinary Printer. In addition, the primary school teachers were trained on the use of the iSchool software, a visual and audio software that has been translated into the seven main vernacular languages of Zambia as well as English.”
“It is pleasing to note that so far, through this Connecting Learning Institutions project that is being implemented by Government, about 37 Basic and High schools in Western Province have benefited and more will continue to be equipped with the necessary ICT accessories to meet the objective of the Universal Access programme which is to promote the extension of ICT services to unserved and under-served areas,” he added.
And speaking at the same event, ZICTA Director General Patrick Mutimushi said implementation of the Universal Access Fund programme started in 2011.
Mr. Mutimushi stated that part of the project has been the installation of universal access sites in chiefdoms, and part of the component was to ensure that all learning institutions are connected.
“The critical component which we picked out was connectivity to the schools of people who are differently abled and so far we have done the opening up of these Laboratories with computers and braille printers to different provinces. St. Mary’s in Kawambwa is one of the beneficiaries and in Mporokoso there is a school of people with special needs where the computers have also been donated.”
“I must mention that the equipment that we have done at Sefula, St. Mary’s, Mporokoso and UTH, are actually special equipment that the braille printer can actually get from word directly to print into the braille,” Mr. Mutimushi said.
He appealed to Sefula School to ensure that the equipment which is worth about K1.5 million is utilized accordingly and well taken care of.