Experts ask govt to review ICT curriculum

INFORMATION and Communication Technology (ICT) beneficiaries have asked the government to review the curriculum so as to empower the next generation of female leaders in Tanzania’s digital landscape.

TANZANIA: INFORMATION and Communication Technology (ICT) beneficiaries have asked the government to review the curriculum so as to empower the next generation of female leaders in Tanzania’s digital landscape.

Speaking on Thursday at the Innovation Week Tanzania 2024 (IWTz2024) side event, a Data Scientist and Digital Skills and Technology Facilitator, Ms Suna Salum said there is need to improve the studying environment to encourage girls to study science subjects.

She said collaboration between the government and private sector is vital to ensure government schools are well equipped with ICT equipment for the development of science and technology in the country.

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Ms Salum noted that creating digital clubs from primary level will help to groom scientists who are going to be useful in future.

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“Creating digital clubs will help and manage students to develop interest in technology and become experts in solving different science problems but also becoming innovators,” Ms Salum said.

Meanwhile, the UN Women Programme Specialist, Women Economic Empowerment, Lilian Mwamdanga said innovative approaches are essential for accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and will be imperative for realising Tanzania’s Vision 2050.

“Innovations in policies, management, finance, science and technology that disrupt “business as usual” are crucial,” she said.

From mobile banking ventures that facilitate women’s entrepreneurship to e-learning platforms that bring classrooms to individuals, social innovations can be powerful tools to break trends and enhance awareness, access and opportunities for marginalised groups, Ms Mwamdanga noted.

Ms Mwamdanga said that studies indicate that soon, 90 per cent of jobs around the world will be related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), saying women remain a minority in science, technology, engineering, and math careers.

Adding that in Tanzania, statistics show that only one out of five science and engineering professionals are women.

Recently, young innovators in the country were urged to seize available opportunities to contribute to propelling the country’s development at a rapid rate. This was said on Tuesday in Dar es Salaam by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Professor Carolyne Nombo as she officially opened the 2024 Innovation Week at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC).

Prof Nombo said that Tanzanian young innovators should take the lead in solving the country’s development challenges by creating innovations that address those problems.

She said the government appreciates and acknowledges the contribution of the young innovators, saying as the country prepares the Vision 2050 agenda, it cannot reach its target without the contribution of the innovators.