Uganda draft policy calls for IT education at all levels

The new Uganda draft IT policy, currently under discussion by government officials and IT stakeholders, has proposed that the country introduce IT education at all levels of its education system.

The draft calls for the adequate financial provision of tools and resources to all schools and the establishment of electronic distance learning networks and Internet connectivity, which would provide opportunities for rural areas to leapfrog into the modern era.

The objective of the proposal is to develop a pool of IT engineers, scientists, technicians and software developers in Uganda and, thereby, provide attractive career opportunities.

According to the draft, the government would achieve this educational objective by establishing a national educational Intranet "edunet" (linked to the Internet) to enable sharing of electronic libraries, teaching and research materials among educational institutions.

The government, in partnership with private enterprises, would also establish a human-resource development fund to meet the country's growing IT education needs, provide scholarships, pool resources for development programs, and establish a database for job seekers and prospective employers.

An accreditation council set up by the government would ensure quality IT education and training. The council would be responsible for establishing curricula, testing guidelines and services. Curricula for elementary, secondary and tertiary institutions would be based on the appropriate national syllabus at the selected level and other global certification syllabi.

At the university level, the draft calls for the introduction of new technology through links with global IT firms.

In order to encourage the take-up of university IT courses, tertiary institutions should be encouraged to conduct short-term training programs to ensure maximum utilization of existing facilities, the draft states.

Discussions on this new national IT policy, intended to address the shortfalls of the 2003 IT policy, began last week.