Zimbabweans have been advised on the importance of early girl child exposure to computer science and tech to improve creativity. Women Affairs, Community, Small Medium Enterprise Development deputy minister Jennifer Mhlanga made the call on Thursday in commemoration of International Women’s Day.
Mhlanga said parents should prioritise introducing their female children to computer sciences early because it can improve their creative thinking.
According to the Deputy Minister, “Change should start at home with us parents; we must encourage girls to dream big and groom them whilst they are still young so as to develop their natural abilities as they grow.”
Her speech which was a joint statement with UN Women country representative Fatou Aminata Lo, exemplifies the 2023 IWD theme, “DigitaLL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”.
According to the deputy minister, “It is crucial to introduce STEM education for women and girls in their early childhood years and to continue supporting them throughout their education.
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“Computer sciences should start at early childhood and this will enable children to have creative thinking. We should educate for equality”.
Mhlanga explained further that the Zimbabwean government is committed to deploying various strategies designed to solve the multiple challenges women face, including access to digital skills.
Speaking on collective actions, the top government functionary stated that society should assist the government in ensuring girls receive the education required for them to thrive in a competitive digital world.
“There is a need to employ a variety of approaches to address the various challenges faced by women, which include enrolment in non-formal education, technical and vocational training, agricultural extension services, workplace training and training in these new technologies,” she highlighted.
On her ministry’s part, she said her team have been implementing a number of programmes to facilitate women’s effective participation in agriculture, mining, tourism, trade and manufacturing sectors.
UN Women Representative On Women Involvement In Tech
UN Women country representative Fatou Aminata Lo acknowledged the government’s women’s empowerment interventions already in place.
“In the midst of setbacks and challenges women face, I acknowledge the work the government of Zimbabwe has done in putting in place policies that allow women to be equally innovative and participate in the technology sector freely.
“The UN in Zimbabwe remains committed to making innovations and technology work for women and girls, UN Women through the Spotlight Initiative have set up in five provinces, mobile knowledge hubs, library and a computer lab, essential integrated one stop repository of information related to violence against women and girls, including sexual gender-based violence, gender equality and women and girls empowerment,” she said.
She however decried the low percentage of women who have access to technology and the internet. She hence called for more commitment to addressing the gender gaps in technology and innovation.
She said: “the gap in access to digital tools and services tends to be greatest for women with low literacy or low income, those living in rural or remote areas, migrants, women with disabilities, and older women.
“Women are rarely viewed as technology creators and decision makers which limit the development of products that respond to their needs and views. Everyone should have equal access to digital skills, training and digital services should be affordable, accessible and add value for all women and girls.
“I call for the removal of all barriers that may prevent women and girls from accessing the digital world. Digital literacy should go beyond learning basic computer skills and focus on a set of competencies that include technical as well as transferable skills,” she said