Z’bar gears to digitise education system

ZANZIBAR: THE Zanzibar government has said it focuses on transforming education system, including digitising it to match with fast-changing world.

Deputy Minister for Education and Vocational training, Mr Ali Abdughulam Hussein, said that a lot has been achieved under President Hussein Ali Mwinyi, as far as digitising the education system is concerned.

Mr Abdughulam noted that the digital technology has been incorporated in teaching as teachers and students use digital devices for teaching and learning purposes.

“For example, the government introduced rewarding all best students (with Division One) in Form IV and Form VI national examinations. More than 1,500 laptops have been given to the best students in recent years and also, we provide teachers with computer tablets. This shows our commitment to transform education,” Mr Abdughulam said.

He said that digital technology serves as an important tool in development, including helping students, but studies show that most young people misuse it.

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However, he warned students against misuse of digital devices such as mobile phones. He made the statement when gracing the handing over of 50 laptops to girls who attended the ICT training under the ‘African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI)’ coding camp, popularly known as ‘Binti Digitali’ programme.

The Deputy Minister also asked the girls who received laptops to ensure that they avoid committing cybercrimes by engaging and viewing or sharing prohibited materials under the cyber law.

The education and vocational training deputy minister thanked development partners for supporting AGCCI coding camp named ‘Binti Digitali’ which started last year and aims to ensure that young girls benefit from and contribute to the technological transformation in their countries and continent at large.

The Belgium government supports the AGCCI, implemented by the UN Women, the African Union Commission (AUC), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

He argued that the world is currently moving towards full utilisation of Information, Communication Technology (ICT) in life, including connecting people in various activities such as business and employment.

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Ms Lilian Mwandanga- Programme specialist, Women Economic Empowerment, UN Women Office, said at the handing over event that the programme is currently in the third phase and they plan to reach and help vulnerable girls.

She mentioned some of topics covered during the training as: Gender equality, women’s empowerment (GEWE) & ICT and Introduction to Computer Science and Programming. Also, students learned about Website Development; Mobile Application Development and Introduction to Robotics.

The trainers were selected from State University of Zanzibar (SUZA), Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) and College of Business Education (CBE). She explained “The coding camp is for young women and girls from secondary schools and universities.

The selection criteria include being a Tanzanian, female aged between 17-25 years; have an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related subjects; and know how to use computers with basic knowledge of computer science.” The Permanent Secretary- Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Elderly, and Children, Ms Abeida Rashid also commended development partners and urged the girls to successfully utilise the opportunity.