[kictanet] ICDL Directive a slap in the face

[Crystal Watley Kigoni]

Wesley is right on the issue of platform. But on the other hand, Robert has
a point about the costs of testing. Does the government have a plan to
reduce the cost of ICDL testing?

Crystal

On Thu, Nov 26, 2009 at 9:25 AM, wesley kirinya <kiriinya2000 at yahoo.com>wrote:

> This issue was discussed a while back and I believe Dr. Ndemo confirmed
> that it's not Microsoft only products that can be used in ICDL. Check the
> history of the list, I think it was 3-4 weeks ago.
>
> O_O
>
>
>
>
> --- On *Thu, 11/26/09, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk>* wrote:
>
>
> From: robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk>
> Subject: [kictanet] ICDL Directive a slap in the face
> To: kiriinya2000 at yahoo.com
> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Date: Thursday, November 26, 2009, 8:01 AM
>
>
> It was with shock and disbelieve when I read an article in the dailies
> indicating that the government has decided to use the Microsoft
> certification ICDL (International Computer Driving License) as the approved
> application compliance qualification.
>
> This is definitely a slap in the faces of all those associations and
> government agencies that have over the years developed generic curriculum
> for applications certification.  How does the government frustrate all this
> efforts for years just to wake up one morning and literally cripple our
> institutions because a "donor" as offered "free" services.
>
> It is a fact that in 90% of cases the first sniff of cocaine that an addict
> took was given to them for free, due to its highly addictive properties the
> dealer knows that it will only be a matter of time before that free sampler
> becomes a hooked client.
>
> The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC), University of Nairobi,
> Computer Society of Kenya and even Pitmans have tried and tested curriculum
> for computer applications competency training.  What makes this more
> practical that the ICDL is that they are generic and not product specific.
>
> In addition they are cheaper to administer and examine all most of them
> require is just an upgrade so that exams can be administered online further
> reducing costs.  The cost of examinations for ICDL is Ksh. 24,000/- at an
> exchange rate of 78/- to the dollar, this is equivalent to 1 year tuition
> for a University degree program. Are we really serious about encouraging ICT
> education and effective utilization?
>
> "When they came for my neighbour I said nothing, when they came for my
> brother I said nothing and when they came for me there was no one to say
> anything"
>
> We said nothing when Cisco moved in a set up so called Cisco Academies yet
> we all knew that this was wrong as Cisco teaches a product specific routing
> implementation based on their operating system which denies the graduand an
> open mind when it comes to providing solutions.
>
> Microsoft was stopped from providing software and their certification
> programs to schools in the same way that depo provera was withdrawn from
> public health facilities in the US & Europe yet like a herd of sheep we
> adopt all blindly.
>
> Can we please stop this madness!
>
> Regards
>
>
> Robert Yawe
> KAY System Technologies Ltd
> Phoenix House, 6th Floor
> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
> Kenya
>
> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
>
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-- 
Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Kigoni
Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development
crystal at voicesofafrica.org
http://www.voicesofafrica.org/

"You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi
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