Mercy Makichi, Form 3 Student, Zvomwoyo Secondary School

As Zimbabwe progresses towards embracing Information Communication Technology (ICT), Zvomwoyo Secondary School in Buhera illustrates both opportunities and challenges in integrating ICT into education.

Despite nationwide strides in ICT, rural communities like Buhera face significant barriers to internet access due to infrastructure limitations.

A 2021 World Bank report on internet penetration in Zimbabwe revealed that 89 out of 100 individuals own a mobile device, rural areas like Buhera, struggle with minimal access to ICT tools beyond basic mobile phones and laptops.

This disparity hampers connectivity and restricts educational opportunities, exacerbated by the high cost of data and inadequate infrastructure.

Brave Mutero, a student at Zvomuya Secondary School, emphasised the importance of cell phones in education.

“Cell phones are very crucial for academic purposes, facilitating information exchange between students and teachers, especially in technical subjects like Science, Geography, and Heritage.

Students at Zvomwoyo Secondary have turned to cell phones as a resourceful tool amid textbook affordability challenges.

Through platforms like WhatsApp, they engage in educational discussions and access information hubs, enhancing their learning experience despite connectivity limitations.

However, the school faces a critical hurdle.

“Despite efforts to integrate ICTs, our school lacks electricity, despite being only 45 meters from the powerline,” said Edmore Toindepi, a Mathematics teacher.

Currently, the school relies on nearby Masasa business centre and Zvomwoyo Primary School for power to recharge ICT devices.

Zvomwoyo Secondary School exemplifies the transformative potential of ICT in education while underscoring the urgent need for infrastructure development to bridge the digital divide in rural Zimbabwe.