This growing disparity or “digital divide” is severely disadvantaging a whole generation of children growing up in the rural areas. Youth Forum Gwanda South District Chairperson, Obert Gwatirera, said there was desperate need for the provision of informational technology facilities.
“There is need to introduce and establish innovative learning programmes in maths and science based on computer use in the school curriculum,” he said. He urged the government to take ICT to the rural areas.
“Government needs to take a deliberate approach to the need to support children and youths by developing the primary and secondary school educational system to include ICT,” he said. The Youth Forum currently operates an Information Centre in Gwanda central, which provides accessible internet services to all its members, students and researchers.
The centre bridges the information gap “in a country where decades of unfair and unjust laws have curtailed media freedom, media access and diversity of news”.
Post published in: News