Dominica is on course to take the lead among its regional counterparts in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education.
“I think even though the ICT investments in Dominica are not necessarily as large as in other countries, you are well placed to be a regional leader and potentially a global leader,” said Educational Technology Specialist Neil Butcher, following a fact finding mission here to develop a three-year strategy for the professional development of teachers in ICT Education.
Butcher who has conducted similar missions in several other Caribbean countries, said he had explored with the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, strategies to support teachers in developing the skills to use ICT effectively in schools.
“What we have found in Dominica so far has been a growing level of investment in ICT infrastructure, a degree of professional development activities, but above all, a tremendous passion and commitment for use of ICT in education in this country.
“So we think there is tremendous opportunity here because there is a committed workforce with people who want to move Dominica forward through effective use of ICT in schools,” he said.
According to Butcher’s findings, several investments have been made in ICT in Education in Dominica as a significant number of schools have been equipped with fully functional computer labs. The Education Management Information System (EMIS) will also be compulsory in all schools by the end of 2012 and under the Free Internet for Schools Programme, 2 mbps internet connectivity has been supplied to most schools free of charge compliments telecommunications provider LIME.
The mission also concluded that based on the commitment of policy makers to the advancement of the ICT sector, “the funding for programmes will continue to increase and not decrease” giving Dominica a competitive advantage in ICT development.
Priority areas for the development of ICT in Education include the completion of a capacity audit for target audiences such as Curriculum Officers, ICT Officers and staff of the Dominica State College (DSC). There are also plans to review the current ICT modules in the Associate Degree Programme at the DSC and introduce an online certificate programme in ICT in Education for primary and secondary school teachers.
The programme is sponsored by Commonwealth of Learning, The Commonwealth Secretariat, UNESCO, and Microsoft. (Ends)
They always have a conference to formulate the strategic plan. After that you here nothing.
One of the things that first drew me to Dominica back in 2000 was that many so people there seemed very up to date when it came to all things Internet. So I’m not surprised Mr Butcher was so impressed, and I wish Dominica’s teachers all the best as they take on this new phase of professional development.
“I think even though the ICT investments in Dominica are not necessarily as large as in other countries, you are well placed to be a regional leader and potentially a global leader,” said Educational Technology Specialist Neil Butcher, following a fact finding mission here to develop a three-year strategy for the professional development of teachers in ICT Education.
LOVE THIS
it is a good venture towards the advancement of time and people.
There is a major concern on the outreach of the program.
While we appreciate the importance of this present agenda….
It seems limited to a very small sector of the society that excludes the farmers and the fisher folks and other similar pockets within the communities.
the suggestion of having everyhousehold own a computer with a mandatory basic program to the individuals within each home.
…let the logistics follow up and within a sixth to seventh month program, we are able to survey on the impact of this ict program on our specially rural culture.
Thank you for making this possible.
CI E BON D E BON