Answer to ICT skills shortage?

European Union (EU) funding towards education in SA could boost ICT skills, potentially relieving the major shortage in this area.

The EU has committed just over R1.1 billion (EUR122.68 million) to the Primary Education Sector Policy Support Programme in SA, says the Presidency.

A portion of this funding that was given to the Department of Basic Education will be set aside for ICT in education and e-education.

Granville Whittle, chief director of communications at the Department of Education, says no specific projects have been identified as those that will receive part of the funding as yet.

“But because e-education is one of the important focus areas for the department, some of the funding will go towards it.” However, Whittle adds that he cannot, as yet, say how much of the funding will go towards ICT.

“I see endless possibilities on how science, technology and innovation could assist in, for example, achieving universal primary education in South Africa,” explains EU ambassador Lodewijk Bri"et.

The skills shortage in SA has long been seen as a problem in the ICT industry, with much controversy surrounding the extent of the crisis.

Industry players have often noted that the concern is that unless something radical is done, SA will continue to face a critical shortage of skilled ICT personnel, which will affect the socio-economic development of the country.

Software Engineering at Wits University, recognised the contributions made by the ICT sector to the socio-economic growth of SA. However, they stressed that these contributions were likely to come to naught because the country was not producing adequate ICT professionals, leaving a massive shortage in the sector.

The importance of education is always highlighted for its crucial role in alleviating this shortage.

According to Information Systems, Electronics and Telecommunications Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (Isett Seta) CEO Oupa Mopaki, the local manufacturing and production of ICT products and services can become a reality. “That is only if a concerted effort is made to educate, skill, and develop young learners up to the highest possible level,” he previously said.

The country needs to continually build a pool of qualified and skilled people, he added. Mopaki also said end-user computing, which is seen as a key administration and life-skills qualification, is part of the skills which are critical to reducing computing illiteracy in SA.

Whittle adds that project plans for the funding will be done in the next few weeks so that proposals can be submitted to the EU before the end of the year.

Parthy Chetty, manager of corporate affairs at Intel, says teacher training and development is an integral part of the attempt to close the digital divide.

This sentiment was echoed at this year's Education Week conference, where teachers highlighted how much ICT intimidates them, due to their lack of skills.

The EU says teacher training will be a strong focus. It adds that the teacher education system will be improved to attract and deliver higher numbers of capable primary school teachers, particularly teachers who are able to teach in the country's indigenous languages.

Democratic Alliance shadow minister of education and training Wilmot James agrees, saying teacher training should be the main focus when allocating the funds.

“I would spend all the money on in-service and pre-service training for teachers to improve quality. ICT is not the answer to our education problems, teacher quality is. ICT is an aid and teachers should learn to master it as part of their training.”

The EU also teamed up with the Department of Science and Technology for a EUR30 million Innovation for Poverty Alleviation Programme.

The initiative has already seen the introduction of a large-scale wireless mesh network project to provide rural broadband connectivity.

Bri"et says the project is an excellent example of how broadband connectivity and the implementation of tested business models can contribute to the government's objectives of accessible education, and, ultimately, poverty alleviation.

The programme has a focus on ICT skills in education as laid out by Bri"et.

He explains the aim is to broaden access to post-secondary education and to improve higher education throughput rates that will contribute to the economic and social wellbeing of the country, by especially addressing the current skills shortages and promoting students to progress up to post-graduate level in all fields of study.

Bri"et says it is also about the “close link between science, technology and education and the innovative products that could be developed and implemented here in South Africa”.