Dr Phiri said in an interview that the power of ICT had the potential to benefit learners but could also work to destroy the morals of the technology users.
He regretted that there were no clear guidelines on the use of technology in schools as it was the emerging field posing a huge challenge to end users.
The minister explained that technology application in schools could be beneficial as it availed a lot of advantages to the users.
“We need new guidelines to regulate the use of technology in schools and the Ministry of Education needs to sit down with other stakeholders to address the issue. Technology can be beneficial and at the same time could be like any other weapon to corrupt the morals of the users. It can turn against the learners,” he said.
Meanwhile, Peace Temple Redeemed Methodist Church’s Paul Bupe said in an interview the application of technology in learning institutions was “severely” being abused by young people and that stringent measures should be put in place to address the concern.
Dr Bupe regretted that the country has not yet developed technology ethics to regulate the usage of ICT in schools, adding that the misuse of technology could partly be attributed to ignorance among the users.
“Technology is developing faster than ethics to regulate it. We have not educated people on the positive and negative consequences of technology application in schools. The Church, Government and other stakeholders must focus on educating recipients of technology in schools,” he said.
Dr Bupe urged learning institutions to impose rules that govern application of ICT in learning institutions and that parents should play a key role to help address the challenges that come along with the introduction of technology in schools.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Martin Nyirenda
Quelle/Source: Times of Zambia, 01.11.2012
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