MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU—The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is targeting up to 80% internet connectivity in Midlands schools by year-end as government accelerates the rollout of smart classrooms under Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model.
Midlands Provincial Education Director Jameson Machimbira said the province intended to establish smart classrooms in all districts, although inadequate internet connectivity, electricity and ICT infrastructure continued to hinder digital learning.
Speaking at the commissioning of a US$9,000 smart classroom at Chaplin High School on Tuesday, Machimbira said internet connectivity stood at 42.5% in primary schools and 46.16% in secondary schools.
“We are targeting that by the end of the year, with support from our stakeholders, internet connectivity should reach between 70% and 80% across the province,” he said.
Machimbira said the expansion of Starlink services was expected to drive the increase in connectivity.
He said electricity remained another major constraint, with only 47.87% of primary schools and 60.6% of secondary schools connected to the grid, while ICT infrastructure was available in just 22.87% of primary schools and 40.15% of secondary schools.
He appealed to government, communities and development partners to invest in ICT infrastructure to bridge the digital divide and speed up the modernisation of education.
The smart classroom, funded by the school’s development committee and parents, is equipped with 40 tablets, an interactive board, an overhead projector and a 42-inch smart screen.
Commissioning the facility, Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Owen Ncube said the project demonstrated government’s commitment to building a knowledge-based economy through investment in modern education infrastructure.
He said the initiative aligned with the National Development Strategy 2 and the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model, which promote science, technology, innovation and partnerships to improve access to digital learning infrastructure.
Ncube commended the Chaplin High School Development Committee, parents and staff for mobilising resources to establish the facility and praised the school’s 91.1% Advanced Level pass rate in 2025.
He also urged learners to shun drug and substance abuse, warning that marijuana, crystal meth, commonly known as mutoriro, BronCleer cough syrup and other illicit substances threatened their education, health and future
