Paris, 6th September, 2024 –
Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary, Ms. Noriana Muneku, has reiterated the Government’s commitment to developing free digital learning platforms for schools as part of its strategy to enhance quality of learning and content for pupils.
Speaking during a panel discussion titled “Gateways to Public Digital Learning Initiative” at UNESCO’s Digital Learning Week in Paris, Ms. Muneku highlighted the Government’s decision to implement digitalization in schools against the backdrop of the recruitment of over 38,000 teachers and introduction of the free education policy to achieve quality education for all.
“Leadership is cardinal in the digitalization process, as for Zambia, President Hakainde Hichilema has placed education at the core of his agenda. When he came into power, the government shifted its focus towards prioritizing education and has since walked the talk,” Ms. Muneku stated.
She urged other developing countries to embrace digitalization in their schools, leveraging platforms like the Digital Learning Week conference to explore opportunities and collaborate on overcoming the challenges of digital integration. Ms. Muneku also encouraged Member States to adopt a positive outlook on digitalization and expressed confidence in the tech savvy of the young ones who are capable of using technology in schools and support them to engage with digital learning.
The Permanent Secretary acknowledged that while public digital learning platforms can be costly, they have yielded significant benefits, including easy production and distribution of digital content and easier access to digital resources by learners.
“As a result of digital platforms, the impact of teacher pupil ratio which was extremely high as well as the book-to-pupil ratio has been greatly minimized. Pupils in remote areas, where access to digital platforms has been prioritized, can now experience the same quality of education as those in urban areas,” she added. Ms. Muneku further called for investment in digital infrastructure to effectively integrate digitalization in schools.
Meanwhile, Ms. Muneku expressed optimism about the Global Digital Compact (GDC) which comes up for consideration at the UN Summit this month as it presents an important milestone in Education. She emphasized that the GDC presents numerous benefits to education, such as promoting digital inclusion and accessibility, ensuring that educational content is available to all learners, regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic status.
Furthermore, the GDC will underscore the importance of digital literacy, which is essential for participation in today’s digital world. Ms. Muneku also highlighted the GDC’s role in fostering collaborative efforts among governments, private sector entities, educational institutions, and civil society to create and share digital educational resources.
“The GDC also seeks to address the need for equitable access to digital infrastructure, including the Internet and digital devices, which are crucial for accessing educational content online,” Ms. Muneku explained.
