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The government says it will provide free internet services to 400 schools while 180 more rural schools will have been connected by the end of the year.
Addressing the media in Harare in her post Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the schools will be provided with free data for nine months. She said:
The Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services wishes to accelerate the implementation of the National e-Learning Strategy through the provision of free internet services to 400 schools that already have connectivity but are encountering difficulties in paying monthly bandwidth subscriptions.
The schools will be provided with data for nine months. An additional 180 rural schools will have been connected by the end of 2021 and will benefit from the same initiative.
Mutsvangwa added that free internet services will also be provided at Community Information Centres and Community Village Information Centres for the benefit of pupils and members of the public. Said Mutsvangwa:
Taking into cognisance the financial hardships brought about by the COVID-19 outbreak, Cabinet wishes to advise the citizenry that all students, pupils and the general public using these facilities will enjoy free access to internet services at Community Information Centres and Community Village Information Centres for a period of nine months.
Members of the public will, however, continue to pay for the other services such as printing, scanning and photocopying that are offered at these facilities.
