Ethiopia: Using ICT to Bring Socio-Economic Transformation

ADDIS ABABA (HAN) February 24, 2016 – Public Diplomacy and Regional Stability Initiatives News.The most dynamic sector of the day is the Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It is almost unthinkable to undertake business or simply to lead decent live without it. Regardless of comparison its pros and cons, the applications of ICT is widely practices in every corner of the world.

No exception for Ethiopia, Ethiopia is aggressively using ICT for all undertakings. For instance, the woreda-NET and School-NET initiative can be set examples for Ethiopia’s vision to create ICT driven society. Most importantly, expanding ICT in schools and higher learning institutions has become compulsory and a must done job.

Apart from facilitating teaching and learning process, ICT assures quality of education by providing fair and equal opportunity for students. ICT will help students to access global information so that they can acquaint with new insights that would help widen their thinking horizons.

ICT has the merit to solve the problems of the pressing issues of the society, shortening the lengthy procedures, preserve the outstanding archives and bring innovative ideas for all the society.

Above all, facilitating and introducing modern ICT technologies to schools and higher learning institution would pay off. In this ever ICT changing environment selection and prioritization of ICTs is commendable.

Expansion of ICT in all sectors has been singled out as a critical and fundamental tool to nation’s economic development and realizes GTP II goals. Thus, consolidating ICT education in schools should be a core objective.

Besides, ICT is a potential arm for technology transfers. In this regard, the need for investing and expanding on ICT education is rewarding for the nation in creating technology driven society.

We are in a situation that a click of button could be a life turning point. One can know what is happening in the other corner of the world, ICT is globalizing everything.

Ethiopia could not be out of this circle. It is with this understanding, Ethiopia has established ICT Park. The multi-million ICT Park situated in Bole Lemi locality is set to facilitate the ICT sector of the country to be top in Africa.

As countries experience displayed the park will contribute to the country’s economy. The ultimate target of the ICT Park is to help software developers and the like to source and export ICT products of Ethiopia.

Companies have already constructed manufacturing plants. Foreign companies are also coming to lease in the park. Since the ICT Park is expected to lengthen the latest connectivity and big data exchanges with the help of broadband and satellite connections, government should continue investing and furbishing with all the necessary inputs.

Currently, more than 26 million students are enrolling in the formal education system across the country. Hence, supporting the education system with modern ICT would not only enable benefit students but also helps provide fair and equal access, which in turn significantly contribute to quality of education.

Recognizing its peerless role, recently the Ministry of Education signed 20 million USD contract agreement for the provision of Educational Private Cloud Infrastructure and Services for 300 Secondary Schools and Ten universities.

In the past 20 years, the nation has done tremendous job in education sector, in expanding education access. Huge efforts aimed at improving quality of education are under way.

The relentless efforts of the government have won the recognition of partners working in education area. They are extending support for the effort to ensure quality of education. Most importantly, the entire pubic should back up this efforts.

Quality is a centrepiece for the five year Education Sector Development Programme (ESDP) being implemented as part of GTP II. The plan has clearly stated the role and contribution of ICT in assuring the country’s education quality. With current available infrastructure, ICT is given as a subject only in secondary schools. Similarly, provision of ICT lessons to primary schools would help create a technology driven society in short possible time.

All in all, expanding ICT in schools at all levels and in education facilities has a paramount significance in creating skill-full and capable citizens who understand their environment and work for the better livelihood of citizens and the nation.

The time has come that makes expansion of ICT access in all the interventions is demanding. The country’s economic development will be dependent one way or another on the country’s technology infrastructure.

Therefore, the country should continue in expanding ICT infrastructures with all possible means. All development partners needs to lend their hands in every means since ICT is catalysing the transformation agenda in the country.




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