 |
| Dar es Salaam |
SUBSTANTIAL
investments in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities
like computers for use in primary and secondary schools is seen as a
fundamental step in enhancing the quality of education that would ultimately be
reflected in the improved livelihood of its people.
For
example, with a one laptop per child programme, Rwanda has moved ahead of most
East African Countries to putting clear direction towards transformation of its
people into an ICT society. However, Tanzania has been making concerted efforts
to engage both state and non state organs particularly private sector in
attracting large investments in the ICT industry due to its vital contributions
to attaining real development.
Responding
to the government call, the Microsoft British Council (MBC), which is non
government organization, provided ICT facilities to primary and secondary
schools in Kilimanjaro Region with a goal of enhancing learning of science
subjects. The MBC through a project dubbed 'Badiliko' has so far managed to
distribute 300 computers worth 450m/- to several primary and secondary schools
in Tanzania.
The
organization last week provided 60 computers worth 90m/- to three primary and
secondary schools in Kilimanjaro Region including Mdawi Primary School located in
Moshi Rural District, JK Nyerere Secondary School in Moshi Urban District and
Mrike Secondary School in Rombo District. Speaking at the handing over ceremony
of 60 computers at Mdawi Primary School, the organization's manager, Ms Lilian
Msuya, said the project aimed at helping students and teachers to have
computers as the necessary teaching aids in order to improve the quality of
education.
ICT
in the education system is mainly used for skills training and even with very
few primary schools equipped, a curriculum has been developed for ICT in
primary and pre-primary education, dubbed in Kiswahili as Teknolojia ya Habari
na Mawasiliano (TEHAMA). However, this ICT as a subject is only taught in a few
schools in the urban areas and near the district headquarters where
institutions have access to electricity.
Also
lack of coordination of ICT in education activities, limited information
sharing, inadequate skills for integration of IT in learning machines,
ineffective organizational structures at the various management levels to
accommodate it in teaching and learning act has been cited as obstacle to the
industry growth. Apart from handing over the computers, Ms Msuya said the
organization also inaugurated a special learning centre at Mdawi area for
science teachers to enhance their teaching skills.
Dailynews Tanzania