Education Permanent Secretary Patrick Nkanza has called on teachers to be Information and Communication Technology (ICT) literate.
Dr Nkanza said teachers play a critical role in imparting ICT knowledge to their learners in order to make them compete favorably on the labor market which is mostly ICT based.
ZANIS reports that the Permanent Secretary said this when he graced the International Day for girls in Information and Communication Technology at Mulungushi University in Kabwe today.
“ICT presents many opportunities for improving the way we live, the way we teach, the way we learn. There are opportunities for decent, rewarding work”, he said.
He however added that such opportunities could only be realized if people made efforts to improve their knowledge and competencies in ICT.
‘’Teachers have a critical role and must, themselves, be ICT literate. The learning environment must as much as possible be ICT based and the Ministry supports this initiative’’, Dr Nkanza said.
And Zambia Research and Education Network (ZAMREN) Vice Chairperson Helise Ng’ambi observed that the numbers of females in ICT related jobs worldwide was very low because of the low numbers of girls opting to study in ICT related fields.
“It is said that worldwide, more than 95 percent of jobs have a digital component. It goes without saying that if the girl child is to make a meaningful contribution at any level of development and to realize her full potential, she needs to be ICT literate”, Professor Ng’ambi said.
Prof Ng’ambi who is also Mulungushi University Vice Chancellor said her organization was privileged to contribute to a technologically transformed nation by creating a platform to encourage and mentor female children in various schools and communities in ICT education.
For sure,we have teachers who do not even know the difference between
hardware and software with diplomas and they are H.O.Ds,DEBS and PEO.What type of learners are you going form in 21st centuary?