The Genesis of a Tech Enthusiast : Part Two

My second encounter with computers was at the boarding school. It was brief and passive. I remember going to computer lab to check if it was operating. To my surprise, it was closed most of the days. On few occasions when I found it open, it would be so packed to such an extent that I could not find any free chair to sit and have a decent conversation with the lab instructor. The walls were filled with black and white pictures of various computer peripherals.

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We had a short conversation where I shared with the computer lab instructor about my keenness to take computer studies as a subject. I was in trouble with my practical subject. I was aware that completing form three without settling on a practical subject was going to brew some challenges in my fourth year class. By having the discussion with the lab technician, I had the view that he would understand my concern and assist before it was too late. The guy just brushed me off, “young man relax, you are going enjoy your final year of ordinary level studies and you can come to the lab anytime you want”, he said. End of year examinations were done and after that busy time, the lab would open for the masses here and there. I managed to use a workstation once because on many occasions the lab would be full, and my suspicion was that the majority who flooded the lab were not registered computer studies. They had come to watch videos, listen to music and entertain themselves whilst winding time till results were out. At this moment, we were in the same boat, however, I was determined to take the subject seriously as it had to stand in as my practical subject. Practical subject is part and parcel of Zimbabwe Secondary Examination Council (ZimSEC) and not having one could pose threats to my form four examinations’ outcome.

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?I did my best to have lab time and on those few days I got a chance to access a work station, it made a whole difference in inspiring and getting me fired up for the journey that awaited me in the following year. The term ended. I was so thrilled to have aced my studies so well that I started preparing for my final ordinary level. Little did I know that life had other plans for me for the year that followed.

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To my surprise, as I was enquiring with those I looked up to , computer studies were not worth the effort and time it demanded. According to them, this subject could be easily passed after one completed the ordinary level. I recall a trusted friend actually sharing with me how the computer schools and colleges were popping up everywhere. I discarded their ill-gotten views on computer studies even when I had no evidence to prove to them that they were somehow wrong. This point is a debate on its own, especially in our modern society where there is fiercely brewing movement of anti-generic education system pundits. Their narrative is that modern education has become defunct. They are raving about how we continue to ignore such a misfortune happening to humanity.

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Between St Peters and boarding school, I did my schooling in rural schools. The primary school had no computer lab but now they do. St Peters and all the rural schools I attend in my schooling days were two worlds apart. I am convinced that most urban private schools are better equipped to address the technological needs and demands of majority if not all stakeholders. I believe that if you want to prepare your child for a career in computer science related field, inserting that child into a computer or technologically advanced and oriented school or college would be a hard, yet necessary step required to set him for a better sail in the stages ahead of his or her studies. The schools that deliver this service well are usually expensive. Growing up, as I continued to attend better colleges, I saw the benefit of affording a child such an experience. Being exposed to computers and being given an opportunity to use them is in some way life altering. A confidence booster. In the illiterate families, that fine-schooled child becomes a go-to person?for most if not all family’s technology inquiries. This is why I applaud every organization and individual engaged directly or indirectly in the championing of digital skills transfer programmes in the schools, colleges, communities and virtual spaces. ?There is a growing force of individuals who are spread throughout the world working in unity to bring the computer education to people who need it the most. Go on Twitter spaces anytime of the day, yes, I mean even during midnight or early in the morning, you will encounter a chain of random impactful free to attend spaces events. On some days, different space can have great topics at the same time putting me in between the rocks. The other day, during my last semester on campus, I tuned in on spaces, attended and participated in a discussion on the impact of open-source software on how African communities access technology. People who attended were full of zeal, know-how of the open-source technology. I was left speechless by that experience. I instantly recognized that technology has already engulfed a big portion of our lifestyle.

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I also learned through my experience that, modern academic institutions are investing heavily towards vibrant and robust computer networks (infrastructure, software, networking personnel). Although this is a good step towards bridging the digital divide gap that is taking a tour in our computing lives, I find the effort not sizable enough to meet the users’ demands at hand. Let's use an example of a network infrastructure that slows down when the big part of the population is engaged on the system. ?That is a flaw that needs to be rectified.

A lot of rural schools have a half-hearted approach towards their computing division. When I look at the checklist, the only item missing from there is the will to make computing a reality and vibrant within the schools. If one looks at the state of the computers placed in schools by the former president of the country, one quickly reaches a conclusion that a solid plan to maintain and service computers especially from the school development committees is still being viewed as insignificant. I also suspect that the old leaders who are not exposed to how technology has widespread in the education industry are a hindrance to the development and acceptance of ideas from other members on the committees, especially those who have seen and experience the impact of computers on pupils. They share these forward centric ideas with the hope that their input will be implemented to intervene. The intervention is needed to equip these committees’ children who are part of the school. If they did not have children in these schools, one might suggest that they have a hidden agenda. They are scared that if their kids miss-out on learning to compute, they are going to be stranded and found wanting in the AI revolution that is coming.

Deep down most parents’ have fears that if they don’t go all-in towards exposing their children to technology, they will be sidelined in the contemporary computing and technology driven marketplace. Hence you see, parents who cannot really afford the crazy expensive school fees, going out of their way to sacrifice all they have to plant a seed worth fighting for. ?I know that we have part of the society that send their children to expensive schools so that they can compete and show off to those giving them an audience , but based on my experience sending your child to an expensive school that you can barely afford is a good gamble if it is well calculated and coming from a place of good intent.