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CHAPTER 2
SITUATION ANALYSIS
The ICT sector in Zambia is categorized into four main sub-sectors, namely;
Telecommunications, information technology, electronic media and postal communication
system. In view of the above the sector needs to be addressed from a holistic point.
The Chapter discusses the current status of ICTs in Zambia and the challenges to be
addressed by the policy.
2.1
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
A number of institutions are involved in Education and Training of human resources in ICT
programmes ranging from Certificate to Degree courses offering specialised subjects
including Computer Science, Telecommunicaztions/Electronics Engineering, Media
training/information sciences, Vocational ICT programmes and skills development. Among
the Institutions involved in human resource development in ICTs are the University of
Zambia, Copperbelt University, ZAMCOM, ZAMTEL Staff Training College and Evelyn
Hone College. A number of other public and private sector institutions offer various ICT
related courses.
Other programmes include Industry Certified (Microsoft, CISCO etc) course and others
based on foreign syllabi such as Institute for Management of Information Systems (IMIS)
and City & Guilds of the UK. However, the compatibility of such programmes with the
Zambian education curriculum and industry is very limited. Therefore, an assessment of the
requirements and local institutional capabilities shall form the basis for a comprehensive
human resource development programme in the country.
Despite the above scenario, Zambia is currently facing a shortfall in critical ICT skills
required for developing its information and knowledge economy at managerial,
professional and technician levels in order to facilitate the development, deployment and
application of ICTs in both the private and the public sector.
Some of the challenges to be addressed include:(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Law ICT literacy in the country, which is a major obstacle to the development of
Zambia s information society;
High cost of technology acquisition, thus making ICT technology and skill
development programmes inaccessible to most Zambians;
The Brain Drain problem, which is resulting in considerable loss of the few skilled
personnel from Zambia to other countries in search of better job opportunities;
Limited local ICT industry thus offering inadequate services and few job
opportunities;
Lack of standardisation and certification programmes in the IT field resulting in
external courses with little localisation to the Zambian education curriculum;
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