DAR ES SALAAM: MINISTRY of Education, Science and Technology’s Permanent Secretary, Prof Carolyne Nombo said on Tuesday that the ongoing digital revolution is set to bring positive changes in the provision of education by enabling learners to access required knowledge and information.
Prof Nombo said the revolution will help to resolve challenges related to lack of infrastructure, teachers and other resources.
The PS was speaking during a discussion to receive opinion on the draft of the National Digital Education Strategy.
“The completion of this strategy will lead to a national direction on investment and other efforts to strengthen the use of digital technologies in the education sector, including guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning,” Prof Nombo said.
According to the Education Policy of 2014, Edition 2023 in line with the improved Curriculum, the government established vocational stream secondary schools purposely to increase the demand for infrastructure, equipment and other resources.
“Thus, the use of digital technologies, especially those that include creating teaching and learning environments and that provide an image of the real environment are increasingly becoming a priority.
“Considering that the digital revolution is an important element in accelerating the reform of education in the country, the government is determined to continue investing in these issues,” Prof Nombo said.
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She said due to the huge financial demand and other resources, the government alone cannot achieve the reforms, therefore there is need to cooperate with development stakeholders and the private sector in general to invest based on collaborative plans and priorities.
Prof Nombo urged the participants to make good use of the discussion and come up with concrete ideas that would help to develop education sector in the country.
“I hope your opinion will focus more in two areas, which is the best way on how to coordinate and connect the efforts of stakeholders from public and private sectors in the country which aims at strengthening the use of digital technologies in education and the second one should focus on the sharing of digital resources,” Prof Nombo insisted.
On his part, the UNICEF Education Specialist, Mr Ayoub Kafyulilo said Tanzanians live in a world of science and technology where life is being changed by new technology and innovation that should be adapted to the modern environment and technology.
“In the 21st century, we are seeing the development of artificial intelligence and we are witnessing the growth of internet business and environmental protection technologies through renewable energy,” said Mr Kafyulilo.
He said that Tanzania is not isolated from the world so it needs to prepare its youth to enter the digital world where most of which is done through the Internet.
“Education is an important tool to prepare Tanzanian children to be part of the new changes which we are seeing.
Our children spend more time in school and if the education system does not provide them with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that enable them to adapt well to the new world, they will be left out or will continue to be an actor of new technology from abroad and we will have little ability to develop our own technologies,” said Mr Kafyulilo.
