That was the message from the head of the Wits School
of Education, Professor Frances Faller, at the graduation ceremony for 27
educators from across Africa who successfully completed the Certificate in ICT
in Education for Policy Implementers.
The Certificate is a collaboration
between the World Bank Institute, Microsoft, Intel, Cisco and the University of
the Witwatersrand (Wits), aimed at strengthening government capacity in the
implementation of ICT integration in schools. It is targeted at officials and
professionals involved in the rollout of ICT in schools, colleges and
universities across Africa.
Since the course was established in
2010, 32 educators from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria,
Tanzania, Kenya and South Sudan have graduated successfully.
“There are numerous projects to
develop teachers’ skills in eLearning and ICT integration at the level of the
classroom, and traditional technologies such as books and radios are being
complemented by and integrated with modern digital ICTs,” said Prof Faller.
“However, there’s a gap when it comes to implementation capacity in this
specialised area of government.”
Microsoft’s Public Sector lead
Kabelo Makwane says effecting transformative change in education required a
systemic approach and cooperation between a range of partners.
“For technology to realise its transformational
potential, it must form part of a comprehensive and integrated strategy that
also revamps curricula and provides teachers with training and support,” says
Makwane. “This kind of capacity-building initiative is critical to our vision
of using technology to improve educational outcomes for the next generation.”
Aaron Makoba, a previous graduate
and government employee explains that he now has the knowledge how to go about
actually implementing the policies needed to create educational leadership by
making the integration of ICT integral in the education landscape. “I now
understand that computer learning in classrooms and through distance learning
can create far better outcomes. It is not just necessary but I now know how to
make it possible.”
Gadget.co.za