Day 7

Three days of computer courses for a child in Tanzania

Schools on the way to the 21st century

Computer courses for children in Tanzania

The classroom is completely silent. Mr. Mwanga looks into 80 expectant eyes. Today is computer class on the schedule. With real computers, for the first time! Four students sit in front of them, almost reverently. Mr. Mwanga looks around, smiling. It was a year ago that he was supposed to teach the children how to use computers for the first time. He remembers the feeling of helplessness. The national curriculum requires computer classes, but in front of him on the table: a piece of chalk and a notepad. So he began to draw a box on the board. But how are the children supposed to understand what he is drawing? It's like learning to read - without books. Today, thankfully, this situation has changed. "This," says Mr. Mwanga, beaming, "is a computer."

need

IT infrastructure in schools

activity

The schools are equipped with hardware and software. Teachers are trained. Teachers and the schools receive long-term technical support.

Measurable performance

Number of students who were able to take computer courses

Result

Measurable increase in students' performance in the IT final exam and increase in the number of students who find a job thanks to the computer courses

Systemically relevant impact

Long-term improved educational and career opportunities, also for subsequent generations of schoolchildren.

background

Information and communication technologies (ICT) have had a major impact on global socio-economic and political developments in recent decades. Institutions such as the World Bank and the UN believe in the potential of ICT to promote development and revolutionize educational systems (World Bank 2009, 2011; UNESCO 2005, 2007). ICT enables access to information where school libraries are lacking. Information and communication technologies offer completely new opportunities to make lessons more vivid using images and film material. Pupils can learn important 21st century skills through ICT lessons. And last but not least, computer skills are in demand on the job market. Graduates with the relevant skills have a much better chance of finding a job. In 2003, Tanzania drafted a national ICT strategic plan and in 2007 a strategic plan for ICT in education (URT 2003, 2007). The integration of ICT into the educational process is one of the goals of these guidelines, which are intended to improve school education. However, to date, most schools in Tanzania are not in a position to offer their students what has long been the declared goal and content of a good education at the political level (URT 2011). The reasons for this are mainly the scarcity of resources that schools face and the lack of reliable providers for their needs. If this gap can be closed, students in Tanzania have a real chance of benefiting from the positive effects of the global knowledge society and finding ways out of poverty with the help of ICT.

The good deed

We provide active, long-term support to schools in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in teaching. Financial support from Germany enables schools to purchase the necessary hardware and software, and also provides training for teachers and technical support. This complete package for the use of ICT in teaching gives students access to ICT and ICT education. The computer room is not only used in computer courses, but thanks to the numerous digital teaching materials, the computers also serve to improve quality in many other subjects.