Technological Infrastructure and Use of ICT in Education in ... - ADEA

Technological Infrastructure and Use of ICT in Education in Africa: an overview
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1. Introduction........................................
If the next century is going to be characterized as a
truly African century, for social and economic progress
of the African people, the century of durable peace
and sustained development in Africa, then the success
of this project is dependent on the success of
our education systems. For nowhere in the world has
development been attained without a well-functioning
system of education, without universal and sound primary
education, without an effective higher education
and research sector, without equality of educational
opportunity.
(Thabo Mbeki, 1999, Opening Speech at the
Conference on Education for African Renaissance
in the Twenty-first century)
The role of education in society is in flux, as a result of the progression of
the forces of globalization, the pace of technological change, the everincreasing
centrality of information and knowledge, and the importance
of skills to access and use both new technologies and information more
effectively. The result is that the aim of education has shifted:
As knowledge in itself becomes a perishable item, the
ability of learners to think independently, exercise appropriate
judgement and scepticism, and collaborate
with others to make sense of their changing environment
is the only reasonable aim of education.
(Haddad & Draxler, 2002, p14)
The central role of education in development is now widely acknowledged.
Several authors also argue that distance education, in particular,
is fundamental to addressing many of the educational challenges faced
in the developing world. It is in the context of focus on distance education
and open learning that information and communication technologies
(ICTs) in education are especially important. The increasing importance
of ICT in the global information society both creates new challenges and
provides solutions to old educational problems.
This report seeks to explore various issues relating to education in
sub-Saharan Africa. Of particular interest is how distance education
and open learning can be supported by ICT, such that the objectives of
education, as noted in the quotation above, might become achievable
1. Introduction