From zero-rated on computer literacy, to higher ways: Ideas for ICT in national education

Author : Palissa Muchimba
Date added : 2000-09-01

Brief Project Background

I would like to share my experience on computer literacy/illiteracy and therefore give you a little of an introduction from a draft of the Zambia Education Management Information System (ZEMIS).

Results

I’M a journalist by professional. I’ve often thought of how difficult it would have been not only for my profession but others as well, to have information flow as it does today, had it not been for Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

However, in my country, there are still information flow barriers. One of the major ones being lack of knowledge or skills in ICT.

Not only is this in the most strategic sector; Education, but others sectors also.

I would like to share my experience on computer literacy/illiteracy and therefore give you a little of an introduction from a draft of the Zambia Education Management Information System (ZEMIS).

“Information is a resource and a basic necessity in any given organization. In education, the quality and effectiveness of the planning and management process greatly relies on data that can be accessed and used at the right time, and in the right form.

“Zambia’s education sector is undergoing reform process and implementing the Basic Education Sub-Sector Investment Program (BESSIP). In order for these reforms to be sustainable, data should not only be accessed and used at the right time, but also formatted to conform to the requirements of user agencies operating at various administrative levels, and geographical sites.

“A computerized institutional Education Management Information System (EMIS) at the District, Provincial and National Level is needed to enable planners and managers and administrators, especially for BESSIP, make informed decisions at all levels of the education system. This will strengthen the District, Provincial and National level capacities.

“The pay-off from a computerized EMIS can be enormous, quick decisions by planners and administrators, sharp focus on simple indicators of education performance, maximum data utilization by education researchers are some of the several merits.

“If successfully implemented, EMIS would become an essential management tool for education in Zambia,” states the ZEMIS draft.

At a Lifelong workshop in November 1999 and June 28-July 1, 2000, I had the privilege to participate in these workshops with some members of staff from the Ministry of Education and other
Sectors.

It was without tumbling on the keyboards of the computer that some of my fellow participants and I at the workshops managed to create a web site at the end of the day.

The ICT Lifelong Learning Skills Workshop is one of International Institute for Communication Development (IICD)’s activities in Zambia and is a joint initiative with Next Millennia Corporation of Zambia and supported by Radio Netherlands Training Center.

“Without ICT, Africa will continue to lag behind,” said one participant at the June 28-July 1, 2000 Lifelong workshop and adds, “it has been so hard to manage information at my ministry without manpower in computer literacy and computers.”

The June28-July 1, 2000 workshop was a follow up to the first one held in November 1999.

The ICT workshops, which last for four days, aims at introducing participants to the use of ICT, Computer Basic Training (CBT) systems courseware and other learning and reference resources.

Participants are given a period of four weeks after the workshop to do practical projects before a review day. A “helpdesk” is provided by Next Millennia for their self directed study.

Participants are expected to come with individual projects based on group projects undertaken at the workshop.

Today, I’m witness to the development of a Web site that is being developed by the staff at the Ministry of Education.

Others in other Districts have already complied databases as a result of the first Lifelong workshop held in November 1999.

Because of the same workshop, I’m one of the founders of Zambia’s First ever exclusive Internet newspaper; www.dispatch.co.zm/


Most participants from the Ministry of Education feel that the workshops create excellent awareness in ICT and was stimulate development in ICT in their organizations.

Manager for BESSIP, Arnold Chengo says he is satisfied that BESSIP in partnership with IICD would implement capacity building based on the out come of projects identified at a National Round table meeting.

The projects identified at the meeting include among others; Improving Teacher Quality, Physical Infrastructure, Computer Networking and Information Management.

Chengo says the workshop such as the Lifelong workshop enhances teacher development in their skills.

“Exposure to ICT knowledge is appreciated. Our teachers need to know what a PC can do, what the Internet can do, that is very important for our staff,” says Chengo.

When ICT Developer from IICD, Dr Arjan de Jager, was in the country for the workshop, he said the workshop held on June 28-July 1, 2000 was an indication that capacity building is needed in Zambia.

“Participants at the workshop showed that they wanted to learn more about ICT. ICT requires a number of skills, and through capacity building, participants will be enabled to build their skills,” Arjan de Jager said.

Chengo who has also participated in one of the workshops reveals that there is still much more work to be done in ICT development for his sector.

Chengo had participated with some of his colleagues whom he says need much more training. He hopes that with the help of the first trainees, much more knowledge shall be accomplished.

His team, which includes participants who took part in the first ICT Lifelong workshop in November 1999 is currently working on the project, a Web Site for the Ministry of Education.

He says this has been done as part of the objective for the workshops to generate cooperation and exchange of knowledge.

“The skills we learnt are not for a few, we have to encompass small groups, the concept for the Ministry is to combine efforts, and in that way much is achieved,” says Chengo.

The first trainees of the workshop in 1999 from the Ministry were under the Data Management Center.

Much of the data management center’s work is to put up databases. Before, the center never stored information on Computers.

It was only in 1999 that the Center received some computers and had to start working on putting data on the computer or storing data in soft copy.

And an Economist from the Presidential Housing Initiative (PHI), Nalishebo Meebelo believes that with ICT at hand, it would mean less cost for the Ministry.

Nalishebo is one of the most enthusiasm participants at the last Lifelong Learning skills workshop had been Zero rated on Web design skills.

I tell my friends that I had been zero rated on web development once upon a time but the workshop provided a time for sharing skills we were learning.

Nalishebo was quick to point out that there had never been any frustration for any of the participants at the time spent at the workshop.

“Despite the time we spent learning what skills required to build a web site or data bases, none of us was frustrated. We all enjoyed the time we spent, knowing that we were learning something,” she laughs.

To tell of how many are still zero rated in computer literacy in other sectors in my country would be another story.

As evidenced at the Lifelong workshops I’ve participated in (both for November 1999 and the June 28-July 1,2000), many come zero rated on computer literacy, and many more are still zero rated on computer literacy in the Education Sector.

Lessons

Dispatch Lusaka [dispatch@journalist.com]

Project Information

Total budget in US$ : -
Country of activity: Zambia [ZM]

Contact Information

Palissa Muchimba

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