LINDA SOKO TEMBO writes
THE Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) have donated 18 computers to each of 190 examination centres for information communication technology (ICT) countrywide.
ZICTA corporate affairs manager Ngabo Nankonde said that was done under Universal Access Programme (UAP) with the objective of extending ICT services to underserved and unserved areas of Zambia.
In an interview with the Sun at the on-going 93rd Agriculture and Commercial Show in Lusaka, Ms Nankonde said it was the wish of ZICTA for the Zambian youth to be computer literate because according to the survey it conducted in 2015, youths were the biggest user of ICT.
She said ZICTA had also set up computer labs to 150 secondary and primary schools working in conjunction with ischool Zambia, fully equipped with content during phase one.
“We have supported 190 examination centers under our phase two project so that the pupils have easy access to computers during exams because ICT is now a compulsory subject and it has an exam requirement.
“We have connected about 500 learning institutions to ICT. The project in its entirety had three phases the first one we gave 20 computers to 150 schools and 40 computers to 48 colleges under the ministry of Agriculture, Education Science and vocational training,” she said.
Ms Nankonde said this year under phase three, the project has installed 20 computers one printer and digital curriculum content from ischool and teaching training to 160 schools countrywide.
She said ZICTA wanted to ensure that youths were connected to ICT and that plans were under way to connect a branch of the Copperbelt University (CBU) in Mpika with ICT as well as colleges and nursing schools.
