IICD supported project: Procurement of Computers for Tanzania Secondary Schools

Countries: Tanzania [TZ]
Sectors: education

Summary

This project is being implemented by the Tanzania Computer Literacy for Secondary Schools Trust Fund (TCLSS-TF); an organisation that procures and refurbishes computers for secondary schools and sets up computer laboratories. The key elements of the project can be listed as follows: procuring the computers; repairing and improving used computers; training technicians; distributing (lease/sale) and networking in schools; servicing and maintaining school computers; linking with trainers and content providers in ICT; marketing and creating ICT awareness; and using ICTs to improve the administration and management infrastructure in schools and teacher training colleges.

Update

Updated: 2008-01-24

So far, this project has procured 480 computers for 13 schools (Mtendeni Primary school, Kisutu Girls’ Secondary School, Jangwani Secondary School, Zanaki Secondary School, Azania Secondary School, Benjamin William Mkapa High School, Minaki Secondary School, Tabora Girls’ Secondary School, Dar es Salaam School of Commerce, Ananasif Computer Centre, Mwananyamala Parish Centre, Kyela Secondary School and Kambangwa Secondary School). Meanwhile, an additional 105 computers have been either sold or leased to private individuals, government officials and other non-governmental organisations. In order to make the project more sustainable, TCLSS-TF has also acquired a number of clients, most notably the Teacher Training Programme, which will allow TCLSS to install and maintain computers at the Teacher Training Colleges. The project has also begun to focus on schools in Kigoma, Mwanza and Mbeya.

Introduction

Today’s teenagers need to learn about the latest information and communication technologies (ICTs) and computers can play an important role in providing them with this knowledge. The best place to reach a critical mass of young people is through schools. As computers and a basic ICT-infrastructure are vital ingredients for the implementation of almost all ICT-related projects in education it follows that a well-functioning organisation with outreach to the rural areas is needed to collect, install, service and maintain computers in secondary schools. This project aims to develop and strengthen such an organization.

Objectives

The goal of the project is threefold:

• Improving the cost-effectiveness of ICT use in schools by providing them with cheap computers;
• Ensuring that these computers are well-maintained in order to increase their lifespan; and,
• Developing and implementing ICT maintenance training for schools. Therefore, when the project team installs computers in the schools it also provides teachers at the schools with courses in computer literacy and computer maintenance.

This project is to complement ongoing initiatives in the education sector by providing computer literacy to secondary schools in the most cost-effective way. The project obtains cheap and/or used computers from different donors in developed countries and then distributes them to schools throughout Tanzania. To ensure that computers serve the schools as long as possible, the project trains computer technicians and provides technical support to people and students who help service computer labs in different schools. Currently, TCLSS-TF has trained 15 technicians for this project and plans to train an additional 20-30 technicians each year. In 2005, the project aims to install 20 new computer labs and improve existing ones. In 2006, 100 centres will be set up (which will amount to an overall total of 3000 computers). Finally, in 2007, the focus will be on improving the final target of 180 computer labs and adding 30 more centres.

Development Impacts

The Tanzania Development Vision 2025 envisages the total elimination of poverty by 2025. In this vision, the education sector is considered pivotal in bringing about social and economic transformation and states that: “Education should be treated as strategic agent of mind-set transformation and for the creation of a well educated nation, sufficiently equipped with the knowledge needed to completely solve the development challenges which face the nation. In this light education system should be restructured and transformed qualitatively with a focus on promoting creativity and problem solving”. The use of ICTs in schools helps students use their creativity and develop their problem-solving skills. This project will help to realise this vision by providing reliable, low cost equipment, maintenance and affordable services.

Management and organisation

The project is run by the Tanzania Computer Literacy for Secondary Schools Trust Fund (TCLSS-TF) under the management of Gabriel Martin Kipija as the Managing Director, project owner and promoter. The Trustees are: Gabriel Martin Kipija, Florida International University graduate; Josiah Absalom, University of Dar Es Salaam graduate; and Isaac Joseph, also a University of Dar Es Salaam graduate.

Market and finance

This project will cooperate with other IICD projects that focus on teaching basic computer applications, integrating ICTs into the curriculum, and teacher training. This will benefit all schools - both primary and secondary - as well as Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs) and Vocational Education Training Colleges (VETAs). The project will have to be sustained by maintenance fees paid by the schools and colleges and participants’ fees from the training programmes.

Results

The project is up and running and has acquired a solid client base. Aside from procuring and installing 480 computers in 13 schools, the project has also set up computer labs with networking facilities in a number of schools.

Project Owner : Tanzania Computer Literacy for Secondary Schools trust fund (TCLSS-TF)
Contact Names: Gabriel Kapija
Tel: +255-22-2181059/ 0748 845454
Email: tclss_tf@yahoo.com

Project Contact : IICD