Sustainable ICT Hubs for Rural Schooling in Developing Countries. The Case of Makoni District, Zimbabwe

This study was motivated by the need for economically and environmentally sustainable ICT hubs in marginalized rural schools in pursuit of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Affordability and availability of ICT infrastructure and resources are the prime factors in the digital divide. Hence, there is need for a cost-effective means to be strategically implemented for the purpose of achieving educational objectives in this information society. Therefore, the study adopted a qualitative research design which employed interviews, questionnaires and observations. A single case study design was pursued for 25 rural primary and secondary schools in Makoni District, Manicaland province of Zimbabwe which comprised of 50 participants. In that respect, findings from the study unearthed that quite a number of schools do not have sufficient ICT infrastructure to enjoy the benefits of ICT centred education. Worse still, some of the schools are not connected to the electricity grid which makes them not ready to pursue ICT based education. Consequently, the study proposed an ICT Hub strategy to serve schools and surrounding communities with the latest digital technologies, thus creating an information rich society and further contributes to global economic transformation