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Implications of ICT landscape changes in terms of new needs for countries and of new knowledge to acquire and skills to develop for training institutions
Abidjan, Ivory Coast November 16-18, 2011
Prepared by: Kolubahzizi Howard and Brenda B. Moore Liberia Telecommunications Authority
Developing an Effective ICT Training Capability in the Telecommunication/ICT Sector in Africa
CONTENTS 1.0 Country Background 2.0 National ICT/Telecommunications Policy 3.0 ICT/Telecom Landscape Changes in Liberia 4.0 Assessments of Liberias ICT/Telecom Sector 4.1 ICT in Education in Liberia 4.2 Post-Conflict Communications: The Case of Liberia 4.3 Liberias 2010 ICT Infrastructure Assessment Report 4.4 2010 E-Government Survey 5.0 Summary 6.0: Conclusions and Recommendations
Developing an Effective ICT Training Capability in the Telecommunication/ICT Sector in Africa
Government entities use many different architectures and systems, most of which are not interoperable, making it difficult to offer shared or integrated services to users. Although government-wide networks and nationwide broadband are evolving, access to technology and ICT literacy remain problematic both within government and Liberian society generally. ICT education in Liberia is not developed, available syllabuses are outdated, and computer labs are inadequate with old computers and operating systems (Win 95). ICT education requires a new perspective, contents of the computer related courses have to be developed to meet recent technologies and standards with the focus to train an educated IT workforce capable of participating in the development of the Liberian ICT sector and its economic development. Significant changes in ICT infrastructure are coming with the landing of the ACE submarine fiber optic cable and the building of a fiber optic ring in Monrovia to connect government agencies and ministries. The ICT Stakeholders in the country are more aware now of the challenges and requirements.
Developing an Effective ICT Training Capability in the Telecommunication/ICT Sector in Africa
Online service index Index value 2010 E-government Development Index 0.0635 Index value 0.5621 Ranking 163 Ranking 155
Telecommunication Index Value 0.0189 Index Value 0.0286 Ranking 176 Ranking 144
E-participation index
8
West Africa
41
Africa
166
Global
30
Least Developed Countries
163
Online Service Index
5.0 Summary.
Liberias National ICT/Telecommunications policy calls for the establishment of appropriate ICT curriculum in high schools, and universities based on international best practice to build capacity in ICTs and related careers. Liberias landing of the ACE submarine fiber optic cable to provide the first international broadband connectivity creates telecommunications changes necessitating new skills and capabilities. Liberia suffers from a lack of a clear strategies for ICTs in education, unreliable electricity, high illiteracy rate and huge skills gap in meeting the ICT needs of the education sector.
Liberia is comparatively isolated from international broadband connectivity and sits between an experimental and established levels with rare absorption of the Internet and low levels of capacity.
Human capacity development with a focus on the effective use of ICTs, can transport Liberia into the global knowledge economy
Introduce compulsory ICT curriculum in high schools, vocational institutions and the university level using syllabuses that incorporates world standard ICT education based on international best practices.
Develop a national plan to revolutionize the educational systems by providing every student and instructor beginning from elementary school, the use computers as the primary communications tool. Provide professional employment and career path for at least five thousand (5,000) Liberians in the telecommunications and ICT sector by 2013 by providing high level training programs for key personnel in ministries and agencies to cover ICT Projects planning, and national infrastructure.