Zim Eye
By Simba Chikanza
9 November 2012
Zimbabwe’s Education, Sport and Culture minister David Coltart has set in motion active plans for a massive computerisation project that is to see the whole of Zimbabwe’s schools linked under a live 24/7 data management software to be accessible for progressive decision making.
Under the new Education Management Information System (EMIS)Â programme, all schools will be networked for electronic learning and there is bound to be improved change in the instruction of curriculum in languages, sports and culture.
Minister Coltart announced this development in detail:
“The Zimbabwean Ministry of Education will finish its compilation of 2012 school data by end of November bringing data up to date for first time since 2006. Once the 2012 data has been published we will then move on to the next stage in the rehabilitation of our EMIS with the purchase of hard & software.
“The new EMIS will link our HQ in Harare with our 10 Provincial offices, 73 District offices and eventually all 8500 schools, a two way flow of information. We are doing this through the Education Transition Fund with the generous support of donors and Unicef. EMIS is a critical component in restoring excellence to the education sector. Since taking office in February 2009 I have not had accurate data to work on because when I took office our EMIS system had almost completely broken down.â€
The Education minister also said that progress is now at an advanced stage:
“This makes planning exceptionally difficult so I am pleased that we have made the progress we have and congratulate all my subordinates within the Ministry who have worked tirelessly, with our friends in Unicef, to get the 2012 data compiled through our existing manual system. When the entire system is computerised it will obviously become far more efficient, which will make our planning more efficient and able to adapt quicker to the ever changing circumstances in the education sector.â€
Analysts have expressed so much confidence in the way in which the said Minister has sought not only to reach out and improve school systems, but also in the way he has engaged various stakeholders through his open door policy that also include sport and culture departments. Many will also remember him for his humble option to drive an old pick up to work as he saw no reason to be in a ministerial Mercedes Benz at a time when the general conditions in the country were not worthy that pursuit of luxury.