Acer launches e-learning classroom in Zimbabwe

Exactly one year ago, the prospect of a fully functional e-learning classroom in the North East district of Zimbabwe was not a reality for the children of this region. Acer Africa, together with business partners CreAtive Credit and Axiz Workgroup have collaborated to contribute in the construction of a first-of-its-kind technology driven education facility, based at the Mary Mount School, in the Rashinga district, Zimbabwe.

The Mary Mount School has been providing scholars with quality education for a number of years and with the addition of this technology will provide up to 600 learners with world class computer-based education.

The aim of this project is to equip each pupil with essential skills as well contribute to their daily classroom experience and see them one day achieve the dreams they aspire to.

The Mary Mount School will be fully equipped with top of the line Acer notebooks, desktops and monitors as well as an Acer Education interactive whiteboard.

The solution further includes a fully interactive projector, offering training imperative to all scholars at the school thus bringing Mary Mount in line with many other schools in terms of the technology offering at their disposal.

Sylvester Nguni, Zimbabwean Minister of State (Representing Vice President Joice Mujuru) along with Lazarus Dokoro, Zimbabwean Deputy Minister of Education Sport and Culture officiated at the opening of the classroom together with other dignitaries including Acer Vice President Amin Mortazavi and CreAtive Credit Managing Director John Burnett after a five hour drive through the remotest of terrain Africa has to offer.

"Much like the recently established Orlando Pirates Learning Centre in South Africa, the Mary Mount version will empower disadvantaged children through integrated technologies," says Amin Mortazavi, Vice President of Acer Middle East and Africa "In the future Acer will aim to establish these facilities all over Africa in order to provide pupils with a supplementary understanding of their school curriculum."

The classroom was handed over to the Rashinga community to realise a partnership that was formed between CreAtive Credit and the Zimbabwe department of education to address the need for educational infrastructure in the area. Marius Le Grange, Acer Africa Education Manager added "The most important investment a nation can make is in its young learners; offering them education will develop them in to leaders of the 21st century. Acer is proud to play an active role in such development projects where students will have access to the latest technology and educational software available in the market."

According to Guido Terni, Acer EMEA Education Manager, technology has assumed a substantial stake in the social and educational lives of today's youth. "For them, learning must be flexible, dynamic, easy, comfortable and practical. Acer plays an active role in developing and cultivating the school of the future, providing innovative and easy-to-use solutions to the global education community."