In remote schools in rural Africa, students and even most teachers have never even seen a computer, let alone used one. Now an online library system and several other information technology initiatives will soon make education not only more affordable, but also much more accessible.
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva is expected to enhance the ability of African schools to use information communication technologies (ICTs) as tools in their curricula. In the draft plan of action due to be endorsed by governments at the WSIS later this week, particular attention is given to developing countries’ use of wireless and satellite to provide access to ICTs in remote areas. Paragraph seven of the current plan provides for, among others things, the need to connect universities, colleges, secondary schools and primary schools by means of ICTs by 2015.
WSIS participants say that open source software could prove invaluable in cutting the costs of education. ‘By combining inexpensive or donated hardware with an open source operating system and open source programs, schools may be able to deploy computers for less money. This could create technology where none existed,” says Wire Lunghabo James, the managing director of Linux Solutions, a data networking company in Uganda.
Linux Solutions, one of the few companies dealing in open source software in Uganda, says they will facilitate e-learning in schools by providing them with cost-effective software. ‘Many times schools get donations of software that turns out to be a burden. With the increasing tightening of copyright, even Africa will not be spared the piracy of software,” says Lunghabo.
He stresses that he would love to see the software industry in Africa develop and produce local programs. ‘When schools are making decisions about computerisation, they just ask for the cost of a computer and never budget for software, leading to software pirating,” says Lunghabo. ‘You can find in schools in Africa computers bundled up in a store because the computers can no longer work with conventional software,” he says.
‘It’s not viable for computers to catch up with the most recent software, but we help them make use of neglected hardware and prevent them from being tied into unnecessary licensing terms detrimental to progress.”
To make education more affordable, students and pupils in remote schools should be able to access expensive books online. Tendai Chikanda, the managing director of Access Lda Mozambique, says his company is connecting remote schools to the internet using satellite and wireless technology.
He acknowledges that his project is a commercial venture, but hastens to add that the fee charged is negligible. He says that the project will have a multiplier effect, since schools will be used as telecentres for community access. He noted that farmers, health officials and other people would also have access to the telecentres.
ICT companies appear to be ready to champion the transition of Africa into an information society. What remains to be seen is the commitment of the individual governments to this cause. One of the many policy ICT questions that need to be answered at the WSIS is whether governments will encourage the development of software that semi-literate people can use. — Hana