Enhance ICT skills – Ndola DEBS

THE Ndola District Education Board Secretary, Terry Changwe says computer studies should be taken seriously in schools in order to develop and equip pupils with Information communication Technologies (ICTs) skills at an early stage.

Speaking in a telephone interview, Mr Changwe said Ndola was one of the few districts across the country that was making full use of computers in both primary and secondary schools.

He noted that under the Zambia Information, and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) programme, a lot of computers had been donated to the district in order to enhance computer literacy among the learners.

“Under the ZICTA programme, a lot of computers have been contributed to a number of schools in the district, hence, most schools both primary and secondary have computers to develop the learner’s computer literacy skills.

“In primary schools for example, we have on average 10 to 50 computers per school. Despite this achievement, I would like to acknowledge that we still need more computers in schools,” he said.

Mr Changwe however lamented on the lack of modern libraries in the district to curb illiteracy among the learners. He said the district consisted of only a few modern libraries with an exception of Fatima Girls, Ndola Girls and Masala Secondary schools. He encouraged management in schools to come up with programmes which would enhance literacy levels among the pupils in schools in the absence of modern libraries in the district. Mr Changwe noted that the Education Board had a strategic plan which would run from 2018-2021 that had put in place a vigorous program to promote literacy levels in the district.

“We have continued to invest heavily in the Continuous Professional Development (CFD) program to assist new teachers to grasp and comprehend the revised curriculum in the area of literacy which has proven effective so far,” he said.