[kictanet] Online Interview with PS Ndemo: Day 1 of 5 ICT in Education

[bitange at jambo.co.ke]

Barrack,
The answer to your first question is no.  The parception out there is that
we are doing fine.  Although we introduced ICDL as a tandard, we still
have not embraced minimum ICT literacy levels in the country. We must be
as competitive as any other country that is why I am disappointed that we
no not like standards.

ICT in schools is not wide spread due to infrastructural peoblems and
resistance by teachers in embracing new technologies.  This undermines
overall objective of developing capacity at all levels.  In most
international airports, they are removing help desks assuming everybody
understands computer basics.  It is often embarracing to see a queue of
Africans in Amstaerdam wanting help with the ticket dispensing machines. 
It has become some form of discrimination by choice.  This is why we need
ICT education to be compulsory not only in schools but in work place.

In my earlier postings I have deliberately talked about end to end
government.  This will require massive education in order to optimally
utilize the new technologies that we intend to put in place.  Much of this
should be done in schools.

Although ICT infrastructures covers virtually the whole country, we have
not utilized the resource as I would have wanted.  In a country like Kenya
we can leapfrog into a modern state.  We have subsidized broadband to
Universities and colleges but you see very little content from these
institutions.  The private sector too has not seen the opportunities that
lie in massive content that is required of a knowledge economy.

I must say that we have some great capacities here in application
development.  It is the private sector that must harness this and create
wealth out of it.  The trouble the rest of the world is watching and soon
you will find brain drain out of here.

We have great plans for education going forward.  We shall utilize all
available technologies to reach every Kenyan.  For example earlier on I
said we need to use DTH to get to every school.  All we need at the school
is a TV set the rest can be met.


Regards


Ndemo.




> Dr, Ndemo,
>
>
>    1. Are you satisfied with the current state of affairs with regard to
> ICT
>    in education?
>    2. Can you highlight some of the gains the country has attained with
>    regard to ICT in education, what is your vision for the education
> sector
>    going forwad?
>
> Thank you
> --
> Barrack O. Otieno
>
> +254721325277
> +254-20-2498789
> Skype: barrack.otieno
>
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