Technological Infrastructure and Use of ICT in Education in ... - ADEA
Technological Infrastructure and Use of ICT in Education in ... - ADEA
Technological Infrastructure and Use of ICT in Education in ... - ADEA
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<strong>Technological</strong> <strong>Infrastructure</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>ICT</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Education</strong> <strong>in</strong> Africa: an overview<br />
119<br />
people to the Internet.<br />
However, s<strong>in</strong>ce two thirds<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Senegalese population<br />
is illiterate, there was<br />
considerable pressure on<br />
Joko to cater for <strong>in</strong>dividuals<br />
who are unable to read<br />
or write. As a result, tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
based on community<br />
requirements became a<br />
central Joko activity.<br />
JokoClubs <strong>of</strong>fer various<br />
courses <strong>in</strong> computers<br />
<strong>and</strong> the Internet, but<br />
an approach specifically<br />
adapted for the needs <strong>of</strong><br />
adult illiterates has also<br />
been developed. This<br />
programme enables learners<br />
to acquire <strong>in</strong>sight <strong>in</strong>to<br />
what new <strong>in</strong>formation<br />
technologies can <strong>of</strong>fer, but<br />
also gives them the ability<br />
to select the most useful<br />
<strong>and</strong> immediate functional<br />
skills for their own development.<br />
Through this<br />
process, adult illiterates<br />
are rapidly <strong>and</strong> effectively<br />
mov<strong>in</strong>g towards literacy.<br />
This has been achieved by<br />
start<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>in</strong>clude learn<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>of</strong> the French alphabet. A<br />
large keyboard is pa<strong>in</strong>ted<br />
on the wall <strong>of</strong> each Joko-<br />
Club, as a teach<strong>in</strong>g tool,<br />
<strong>and</strong> a CD-ROM is used<br />
so that the look <strong>and</strong> the<br />
sound <strong>of</strong> each letter can<br />
be covered simultaneously.<br />
Other s<strong>of</strong>tware helps learners<br />
develop keyboard skills<br />
<strong>and</strong> later on <strong>in</strong> the course<br />
arithmetic <strong>and</strong> calculations<br />
are covered.<br />
The dem<strong>and</strong> to jo<strong>in</strong> the<br />
JokoClubs has been overwhelm<strong>in</strong>g;<br />
a wait<strong>in</strong>g list<br />
for the programme <strong>of</strong><br />
more than 1,500 has at<br />
times existed.<br />
Source: Carney & Firpo<br />
(2000)<br />
Clearly <strong>ICT</strong> has a contribution to make to the basic education <strong>of</strong> adults.<br />
If basic education is looked at only <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> basic literacy, numeracy,<br />
<strong>and</strong> rudimentary life skills, then technology could be considered a luxury.<br />
However, basic education for all <strong>in</strong> the modern world <strong>in</strong>corporates more<br />
than the conventional elements <strong>and</strong> has to equip <strong>in</strong>dividuals <strong>and</strong> nations<br />
to function <strong>in</strong> a world that is <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly globalized <strong>and</strong> technologically<br />
advanced. Therefore, not only do the illiterate adult population <strong>of</strong> sub-<br />
Saharan Africa need to develop a range <strong>of</strong> basic functional skills, they<br />
also need to develop a level <strong>of</strong> underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>iciency <strong>in</strong> many<br />
<strong>of</strong> the new technologies that are now available.<br />
12. <strong>ICT</strong> <strong>and</strong> Adult/Basic <strong>Education</strong>