Almost nine
years ago, the UK parliament’s “Postnote” clearly stated that information and
communication technology (ICT) can help developing countries tackle a wide
range of economic, health and social problems.
By improving
access to information and by enhancing ICT, these countries can substantially
eliminate extreme poverty, combat serious disease, and achieve universal
primary education and gender equality, the Postnote indicated. The Head
of State, President Paul Biya in his message to the youths came back to this
topical issue reminding them of the technological changes that are taking place
and the need to readjust to such alterations. “Technological advancement has
changed the way things are done. The new economy is computer-dominated”, he
said.
In effect, the
decision to develop a policy towards ICT at the level of government fully
concretised in 2007, even though individual institutions were already grabbling
with it. Things have eventually advanced with the computerisation of the public
services but the distance remains wide considering the challenges therein.
ICTs in the real
sense refer to diverse set of technological tools and resources used to
communicate, create, disseminate, store and manage information. Technologies
here include computers, internet, broadcasting (radio and television) and
telephony. These in effect, are potential areas of employment which call for a
refocusing from the educational system in order to bring up technicians and
engineers. “The ongoing professionalization of secondary and higher education
seeks to meet this requirement.”
The need to go
ICT fits squarely with the exigencies embedded in the country’s ambitions.
President Biya points out clearly that areas like agriculture, mining, tourism,
arts, sports and environment need to be tackled and as such there is need to
have better training institutions that prepare youths for their integration in
them. “These sectors are real niches for growth and skilled jobs such as plumbing,
electricity and motor and industrial mechanics.” The drive towards
technological studies needs to be intensified with the main goal of weeding out
installed concepts that technical schools are reserved for duller students. In
fact, this manner of reason is what has kept the country behind in ICTs.
The good thing
however is that the trend of events at the international level is fast driving
policy makers and the population at large to recognise the importance of ICTs.
The Head of State reminds youths in his speech that technical skills pay more
than the business and service sectors. The advantage with these sectors is that
many individuals and companies are investing in it, computer services, internet
and telephone. And as destiny would have it, all other activities are building
around them. Investors would certainly hesitate injecting their funds into a
country with undeveloped ICT.
The impact of
high-speed internet needs not to be emphasised. All businesses now thrive on
the back of telecommunication. Even agriculture which remains Cameroon’s best
bait will not progress without the effective use of industrial inputs,
fertilizers, pesticides, tractors etc. And for this to happen, everything must
start at the base of and that base is simply the country’s educational and
training programmes.
By Lukong Pius
