A recent study on the preparedness of teachers for remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which includes Zambia, concluded that teachers received limited preparation and training for emergency remote teaching and the little training provided failed to include the provision of psycho-social support for students and teachers. The study also concluded that students from rural areas were excluded from remote teaching, mainly due to limited access to ICT tools and infrastructure, internet connectivity and electricity. As a result, some teachers and learners had little motivation and self discipline to continue remote teaching and learning (Villet etal., 2020)
Based on the challenges, the Zambian government has embarked on several efforts with stakeholders to improve the teaching and learning environment and address the observed shortfalls in ICT infrastructure and skills. To support these efforts, an enabling environment is being created through research, policy review, development and regulation.
VVOB Zambia Participated in the Digitalization in the Education Sector workshop ''Teaching and Teaching World in the Digital World: Covid-19 and beyond'' organized by the International Labour Organization Southern Africa Regional Office in collaboration with the Government of Zambia. Other participants included, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Technology and Science, Ministry of Labour and Social Services, The Zambia Information and Communications Agency, UNESCO, Campaign for Female Educationists and the academia such as the Copperbelt and Mulungushi University.
Held from 20th to 21st July, 2022 the workshop aimed at expanding and deepening knowledge on the impact of technology on teaching and learning as well as the teaching profession. Further, it aimed to promote dialogue between governments and employers and worker's organizations toward identifying concrete and actionable measures for equitable and quality digitalization in teaching and education.
The event was instrumental in providing a snapshot of the opportunities available to better prepare teachers for remote teaching, and solutions available to motivate and engage teachers in rural areas.