Faith Ncube
Zim GBC News Reporter
TECHNOLOGY has made everything easy, by just a touch of a button it’s all systems go in this aplomb modern world.
Technological advancement is effectively enhancing service delivery in most sectors in the country. The education sector being one of the beneficiaries and having these technological devices at disposal, teaching has become easy as ABC.
Educators across the country’s divide have lauded the use of technological gadgets in their daily duties in the educational space, bringing in positive impact on all Zimbabwean citizens, including young children.
A teacher at Nyathi Secondary School, Matabeleland North has said the coming in of technology to the academic discourse has brought about enlightenment to many a student.
“School children are benefiting a lot from technology as they get new ideas, discover new concepts on their own. It becomes easy for me as a teacher to educate children about something that they already know.” Said Rebecca Mahlangu.
Mahlangu added that it is prudent to note while that while IT technology has eased life among pupils the same is a double edged sword. In as much it is a blessing, it is also a curse which clouds learners with all the wrong information.
“Nevertheless, learners end up giving all the attention on social media with things that are irrelevant to school.”
While Technology allows children to connect with their family, friends, and others in ways which enrich their relationships, especially when using video chat and other real-time interactions it has taken away the bond if relationships.
Many parents who relocates leaving their children behind have lost that umbilical bonding which gogo maMathe described as umhelo.
Akusela mhelo mntanami, labantwana abaselandaba labazali babo. Nxa befonelana ngamafoni abo lawa alamaTV, kuyazikhanyela ukuba abantwana abalandaba labazali babo.”
That bond is gone, even when children are video chatting with their parents you can see that parent-child bond is missing
“Yikho ngithi kumbe lawamafoni yiyo enza ukuthi kungabi lomanyano wemuli. Lumntwana, lo..lo umntanomnatanami, umntaka Rosina okwakhe yikutshona ephethe leyo seliphoni, uyambona ehleka yedwa, ehlabela, ekhuluma yedwa. Laphakathi kobusuku, ulala ekuphethe. Akasalaleli, akathumeki, akezwa ma umemeza ngenxa yempondo ayabe ezifake endlebeni.” The aged lady complained of her grandchild.
These cellphones, maybe, they take away family bonds. My grandchild, Rosina’s child, is ever carrying her cellphone, she is ever laughing on her own, singing, talking to someone I don’t see. Even in the middle of the night she is ever on her cellphone. She won’t do her chores, she has become delinquent, even when I call her name, she won’t hear me as she will be putting earphones.
Yes, these are some of the distractions that are brought about with technological space.
The use of technology in the education section allows school going children and even college students to learn within and beyond the classroom.
A grade six student from Binga Primary School, Mitchell Mudenda adimires the preface of technology in the country.
“Technology makes our learning more interactive and engaging, with the use of educational apps and online resources. Additionally, social media has made it easier for students to access different perspectives and opinions on various topics.” Mudenda said.
“But social Media has its own disadvantages. My friend had a photo of her sister naked circulating in out village. I am now afraid to have someone take a picture of me. The sister denies that she was naked, she says someone did something to the original photo. I don’t understand how the picture was changed.”
While social media which replaced traditional media is revered for its effectiveness in society for fostering advancement in various sectors human in the human world it is also creating an idle humankind. The nowadays people are so totally dependent on technology such that one cannot think for themselves. Many people are now relying on technology in everything they do. This has brought in idle minds.
The same technology in the Social media platforms has also been used to facilitate other crimes such as human trafficking and distribution of pornographic material. It also has destroyed families.
While several existing statutes have been invoked in the face of these threats, the absence of a specific law to deal with social media threats militates against the current legal framework.
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