`E-classes solution to teacher shortage`

[BabuK]

Shukuru Kawambwa


The government is of the view that ‘e-classrooms’ will bridge the shortage of 85,000 teachers needed in the sector and to achieve the goal saying classrooms are evolving from isolated learning environments into global collaborative learning centres.

To achieve the goal, the government is partnering with leading multi-national technology companies and non-governmental organisations to create a computer-based teaching programme for public schools.

In this regard, the Ministry of Education is making final touches to an intensive e-education programme to integrate information communication technology (ICT) into the teaching and learning process named: ‘Tanzania Beyond Tomorrow’, designed to address the problem of educating Tanzanians in the information and computing age.
It also marks commitment from the government to improve the quality of secondary education in the second phase of the Secondary Education Development Programme (SEDP).

“Education needs to evolve through ICT, educational software, digital books and applications have increased in availability,” reads part of the statement released.

The statement further explains that as technology advances with the proliferation of internet connected mobile devices, such as smart phones and tablets, users are finding new methods to share information.
As a result, educators are exploring ways to use these tools in the classroom to enhance learning and productivity. Most modern classrooms are expected to be connected to the internet through Wi-Fi or wireless broadband and are equipped with desktop PCs, notebooks and even tablet PCs.

The move is not unique to the country, as demand for digital education tools grows, device manufacturers and solution providers are realising emerging opportunities in the academic field.
Governments are beginning to understand the importance of adapting to the changing needs of tech-savvy students.

Many governments are implementing aggressive initiatives, such as digitising public school textbooks. Their primary goal is to make fundamental improvements to education through interactive teaching tools in the classroom and beyond.

By reinforcing the e-Learning environment, Tanzania will expand the opportunity to make education available to anyone, anywhere and at anytime.

Recently, the Samsung Smart School Programme was launched at Kambangwa Secondary School in Dar es Salaam. The programme allows teachers and students to share various contents through a combination of modern ICT equipment providing an enhanced and flexible learning environment.

“The government is committed to improving education and life skills in the Tanzania community through technology so that people are better equipped to compete in the global labour market,” the Country Manager for Samsung in Tanzania, Kishor Kumar said at the launch.

“This innovative frees educators from the confines of standing in front of a chalkboard or behind a projector and allows them to move about in the classroom…conducting interactive lessons and activities through their smart blackboard and laptops,” Kishor explained adding that it will boost student retention rates by providing an interactive learning environment where they actively participate in the lesson.

“Students become more engaged in the subject matter with hands-on experience and collaboration in the classroom and beyond, helping them to retain what they learn,” he said.
The average student to classroom ratio is one teacher to 60 students with cases of 100 students per classroom being a common occurrence.



SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN


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