African Leadership in ICT Needs Analysis South Africa - GeSCI

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ICT is immense in this effort to restructure and help build robust infrastructure in South Africa. Both for the science, technology and innovation and education developments, ICTs are critical to improve infrastructure. In particular for the education and skill formation, ICTs can contribute to the improvement of the quality of education by increasing access to all those who may not be able to communicate with traditional pen and paper means of expanding learning opportunities. In terms of policy to address these issues the Government has been active. All the necessary instruments and visions are in place. In our interviews we interacted with capable CEOs who knew the limits and opportunities of the ICT revolution in transforming the South African national system of innovation in general and the educational system in particular. What was striking from the research is the limited bandwidth of the ICT component in the South African system of innovation and the realisation by both senior and middle level officials of the need to increase the share of bandwidth in South Africa’s national system of innovation. We reiterate in the key areas of education, a number of policy initiatives taken as reported by middle level officials show the following commitment: • In 1997 Government started the Technology Enhanced Learning Initiative (TELI) to promote the first set of guidelines on how to spread ICT in the schools in South Africa (Van Audenhove, 2003) • In 2004 the Government created the White Paper on E‐Education with the objective of transforming every pupil in South Africa to be ICT capable in all spheres of education 24 • The Department of Communications (DOC) was entrusted to implement ICT diffusion through the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (2002) • The White Paper and the DOC are entrusted to accelerate policy implementation by realising cost reduction of communication, bridging the digital gap between urban and rural, historically advantaged and disadvantaged communities • In addition the White Paper recognises the crucial importance of building an integrated broadband plan that will contribute to the development of a knowledge economy, Page 24 of 55 African Leadership in ICT, ALICT - http://www.gesci.org/african-leadership-in-ict-alict.html
stimulating application for innovation, the regulation of e‐ content , building a people centred, inclusive information society and knowledge based economy • The White Paper stipulates for the implementation of a national cyber‐security policy, information security system, skills development in ICT and converting South Africa into a globally competitive ICT hub. The ambition of the South African Government is to integrate fully ICT into all spheres of education starting from the foundation of basic education to all the post‐school educational opportunities. ICT skills are seen as an integral part for the reduction of poverty, creation of sustainable livelihood, harnessing the diversity of society and strengthening economy, state and society. The potential of ICT is immense in this effort to restructure and help build robust infrastructure in South Africa. ICTs can improve infrastructure and contribute to the improvement of the quality of education by increasing access to all those who may not be able to communicate with traditional pen and paper means of expanding learning opportunities. Access to ICT is recognised as a basic human right. The science and technology system for development in South Africa is an integral part of the South African system of innovation to contribute to the knowledge society. The key challenge is human capital and skills throughput from the post‐school system. The Ministry of Higher Education and Training has taken measures to revitalise the whole post‐school system and the current minister has prioritised teacher training through the new Higher Education Qualification Framework (HEQF) 25 26 . Efforts to generate accredited in service and pre–service teacher training with ICT being an integral tool for building competence are designed for delivery and rectifying the difficult situation that the education world is in South Africa. The importance of moving South Africa to a knowledge society by embedding ICT in the education system, the science and technology system and through encouraging innovation by making sure that governments, the private sector, universities and communities work in a multi helices coordination, remains a vital consideration to realise fully the success of the national system of innovation in South Africa. Page 25 of 55 African Leadership in ICT, ALICT - http://www.gesci.org/african-leadership-in-ict-alict.html
Page 1 and 2: African Leadership in ICT Assessmen
Page 3 and 4: Opportunities, Needs and Gaps - wit
Page 5 and 6: PRI Public Research Institution R &
Page 7 and 8: disadvantaged black students. There
Page 9 and 10: in the middle income group the rank
Page 11 and 12: taken important strides forward, th
Page 13 and 14: • Centralised Ordering: The Commi
Page 15 and 16: The White Paper characterises schoo
Page 17 and 18: • The International ICT R&D Colla
Page 19 and 20: The report visions literacy and ICT
Page 21 and 22: • A National Research Foundation
Page 23: Basic education in South Africa suf
Page 27 and 28: 4. Field Research i. High Level Int
Page 29 and 30: ii. Middle Level Interviews (middle
Page 31 and 32: unimportant, 2 for moderately impor
Page 33 and 34: Fig.2 South Africa Senior Level Man
Page 35 and 36: Fig.4 South Africa Middle Level Man
Page 37 and 38: 5. Conclusions and Recommendations
Page 39 and 40: Recommendations General recommendat
Page 41 and 42: References Chisholm, L. (2004) The
Page 43 and 44: Appendices Appendix 1: Referenced R
Page 45 and 46: Appendix 2: Interviews: URL, Contac
Page 47 and 48: Appendix 4: Leadership capacity que
Page 49 and 50: Appendix 5: Importance - Prioritisa
Page 51 and 52: Low IMPORTANCE High Quadrant III: H
Page 53 and 54: Factors Enabling Features / Opportu
Page 55: 18 The Department of Science and Te

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