The 40th Annual Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) Conference, currently underway in Bulawayo, has brought digital transformation and structural reform of the education system into sharp focus, as educators and stakeholders from across the country converge to reimagine the future of teaching in Zimbabwe. Held under the theme of embracing technology and professional dignity, the three-day event is tackling some of the most pressing challenges confronting the sector.
High on the agenda is the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) into classroom management, learning environments, and administrative systems. Delegates called for urgent government investment in digital infrastructure, arguing that the education system must align with global trends to remain relevant. ZIMTA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Sifiso Ndlovu, stressed the importance of digitalisation, stating, “The issue of digitalisation and AI are very important to both teachers and learners, and as such, we call upon the government to offer its maximum support during this ICT era because now the whole education chain needs digitalised management.”
Participants also reiterated the importance of upholding the dignity of the teaching profession through the establishment of a Professional Council for educators. Such a body would not only safeguard standards and ethics but would also give teachers a platform to influence policy direction. “There is a need to have the Profession Council so that we maintain the dignity of educators,” one delegate remarked, highlighting a shared sentiment among attendees.
Issues of equity and inclusivity were also brought to the fore, with disabled educators expressing concern about deployments that fail to consider their needs. “Sometimes as disabled educators, we are deployed where we cannot perform well because of various factors,” one teacher pointed out, signalling the need for a more responsive and inclusive placement policy.
Furthermore, the conference called attention to workforce rejuvenation in the education sector. Delegates advocated for the recruitment of younger teachers to address gaps caused by an ageing workforce and improve knowledge transfer in rapidly evolving educational environments.
While the conference traditionally serves as a platform for electing new leadership every four years, this year’s electoral process was deferred to allow for an ongoing constitutional review within the association, an indication that ZIMTA is also undertaking internal transformation in tandem with national educational reforms.
As deliberations continue, the ZIMTA conference is proving to be more than a routine gathering; it is a defining moment in the push for a technologically advanced, inclusive, and professionally empowered education sector in Zimbabwe.
