South Africa has been ranked 36th out of 82 countries surveyed by the World Economic Forum, the World Bank and the Paris-based international business school INSEAD in the latest Network Readiness Index.
The study was limited to 82 countries because of the lack of necessary data to rank other nations, the authors said. The 335-page Global Information Technology Report used 64 criteria, ranging from the use of technology by individuals, governments and businesses to regulations and infrastructure.
South Africa was the highest ranked African country ahead of Botswana (44), Namibia (53), Mauritius (56), Egypt (65), Nigeria (74) and Zimbabwe (80).
The report aims to help governments adopt technology policies that will help them compete in the global economy. The countries that scored the highest were those where government and business leaders were most flexible.
Finland was the global leader, followed by the US, Singapore, Sweden, Iceland, Canada, Britain, Denmark, Taiwan and Germany. South Africa was ranked 35th in terms of usage, 38th in terms of environment, but only 44th in terms of readiness.
South Africa was ranked highly in terms of the political/regulatory environment at 29. This put it above countries such as Korea (33), Japan (37), Thailand (39), Chile (40), China (52), Mexico (57) and Poland (58).
One of the main reasons why South Africa ranks so low in the readiness index is that it is only ranked at 73 in terms of science and mathematics education. This is also shown by a recent survey amongst small businesses that showed that only one in ten of South African Internet users had any formal Internet training.
Various government, donor and private sector initiatives have been launched to address this deficiency with the US Agency for International Development (USAid) for example partnering the Department of Education and businesses to assist 102 schools dedicated to mathematics, science, and technology.
The goal is not only to provide laboratory equipment such as science and math kits to disadvantaged youth, but also to strengthen teacher skills in instructing these subjects. – I-Net Bridge