jMali
JF-Expert Member
- Nov 9, 2010
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Limited knowledge and skills on how to use information and communication technology (ICT) channels by a majority of the population is threatening government's ambition to build an information-rich and knowledge-based economy.
"Digital illiteracy is still very much a problem; it is one of the challenges that have hindered wider adoption and usage of ICTs," said Minister of Youth and ICT Jean Philbert Nsengimana at a recent press briefing on this week's Smart Rwanda conference.
"We have initiated programmes to increase ICT literacy.
"We are working with the Ministry of Local Government to take it down to the local levels."
Under the SMART Rwanda initiative, the government is deploying digital tools to facilitate use of technology in various areas of the economy. The conference is aimed at promoting the use of technology.
Less than four per cent of Rwandans aged six and above are computer literate, according to a recent survey by Rwanda Tele Centre, a network of ICT literacy providers.
But despite efforts by the government and its partners such as NGOs like DOT Rwanda and Rwanda Tele Centre and other stakeholders to improve literacy, the impact is relatively small.
Income not a barrier
Income levels have not been much of a barrier when it comes to mobile technology, Mr Nsengimana said, adding that some people spend much money to stay connected. He also cited low electrification levels, especially in the rural areas, as a barrier to usage of digital tools.
The government has so far laid more than 4,500 kilometres of fibre optic cable across the country and is also rolling out a "super-fast" 4G LTE Internet in partnership with Korean Telecom to facilitate the use of the Internet.
But the efforts are undermined by lack of basic digital skills with most people using the Internet only for email and social networking.
Jean Damascene Iyamuremye, a motorist in Kigali, owns a smartphone which he bought at Rwf47,000 and has the capacity to navigate the Internet.
Although he can benefit from different social media applications, he only uses his phone to make calls and send messages.
"Internet is not what motivated me to buy this phone," Iyamuremye said. "I don't even know how to use it; those things are for the educated. But it's a respectable phone and I enjoy using it."
Mr Iyamuremye's story is echoed by many Rwandans who put their smartphones to very limited use. Yet, with smartphones, users may also be able to do mobile banking and Internet banking, for instance.
While Rwanda has registered tremendous ICT growth with mobile penetration at more than 68 per cent and Internet usage at 22 per cent, only 9.17 per cent of the population uses the Net, according www.internetlivestats.com, a site that tracks real-time Internet usage worldwide.
Daniel Barrientos, the Tigo Rwanda head of mobile financial services, said although the use of mobile money services is increasing, many Rwandans still use their phones only to make calls.
The company is investing in customer education and, early this week, it launched the "Tigocashinga" campaign that is aimed at encouraging its subscribers to use mobile money services.
"We are doing these kind of campaigns to tell customers that there are better ways to handle your money," Mr Barrientos said.
While there are slightly more than million Rwandans using mobile payments, only 552,027 and 32,460 use mobile payments and mobile banking, respectively.
Grace Mutesi, a sales executive at smartphone dealer Techno Phones, said it was mainly city dwellers who buy smartphones, "especially young people; they come looking for phones with WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media applications."
A recent World Bank report says ICT has attracted more than 45 per cent of Rwanda's foreign direct investments in the past five years, leap-frogging mining, tourism and other sectors.
Source:Theeastafrican
http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/Rwa...433218/2474610/-/item/0/-/vo94c7/-/index.html
"Digital illiteracy is still very much a problem; it is one of the challenges that have hindered wider adoption and usage of ICTs," said Minister of Youth and ICT Jean Philbert Nsengimana at a recent press briefing on this week's Smart Rwanda conference.
"We have initiated programmes to increase ICT literacy.
"We are working with the Ministry of Local Government to take it down to the local levels."
Under the SMART Rwanda initiative, the government is deploying digital tools to facilitate use of technology in various areas of the economy. The conference is aimed at promoting the use of technology.
Less than four per cent of Rwandans aged six and above are computer literate, according to a recent survey by Rwanda Tele Centre, a network of ICT literacy providers.
But despite efforts by the government and its partners such as NGOs like DOT Rwanda and Rwanda Tele Centre and other stakeholders to improve literacy, the impact is relatively small.
Income not a barrier
Income levels have not been much of a barrier when it comes to mobile technology, Mr Nsengimana said, adding that some people spend much money to stay connected. He also cited low electrification levels, especially in the rural areas, as a barrier to usage of digital tools.
The government has so far laid more than 4,500 kilometres of fibre optic cable across the country and is also rolling out a "super-fast" 4G LTE Internet in partnership with Korean Telecom to facilitate the use of the Internet.
But the efforts are undermined by lack of basic digital skills with most people using the Internet only for email and social networking.
Jean Damascene Iyamuremye, a motorist in Kigali, owns a smartphone which he bought at Rwf47,000 and has the capacity to navigate the Internet.
Although he can benefit from different social media applications, he only uses his phone to make calls and send messages.
"Internet is not what motivated me to buy this phone," Iyamuremye said. "I don't even know how to use it; those things are for the educated. But it's a respectable phone and I enjoy using it."
Mr Iyamuremye's story is echoed by many Rwandans who put their smartphones to very limited use. Yet, with smartphones, users may also be able to do mobile banking and Internet banking, for instance.
While Rwanda has registered tremendous ICT growth with mobile penetration at more than 68 per cent and Internet usage at 22 per cent, only 9.17 per cent of the population uses the Net, according www.internetlivestats.com, a site that tracks real-time Internet usage worldwide.
Daniel Barrientos, the Tigo Rwanda head of mobile financial services, said although the use of mobile money services is increasing, many Rwandans still use their phones only to make calls.
The company is investing in customer education and, early this week, it launched the "Tigocashinga" campaign that is aimed at encouraging its subscribers to use mobile money services.
"We are doing these kind of campaigns to tell customers that there are better ways to handle your money," Mr Barrientos said.
While there are slightly more than million Rwandans using mobile payments, only 552,027 and 32,460 use mobile payments and mobile banking, respectively.
Grace Mutesi, a sales executive at smartphone dealer Techno Phones, said it was mainly city dwellers who buy smartphones, "especially young people; they come looking for phones with WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media applications."
A recent World Bank report says ICT has attracted more than 45 per cent of Rwanda's foreign direct investments in the past five years, leap-frogging mining, tourism and other sectors.
Source:Theeastafrican
http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/Rwa...433218/2474610/-/item/0/-/vo94c7/-/index.html
