NGOZI April 20th (ABP) – The digitization of the education system in Burundi remains almost in a dream. According to Serges Sabimbona, professor of ICT at the Applied Pedagogical Institute (IPA) and designer of ICT programs, this is due, among other things, to the level of computer teachers, which remains low. ICTs are also not sufficiently used in science education in Burundi. There is also a regional digital divide and a significant gap between urban centers and remote schools. There is also a problem of infrastructure, electricity and computer equipment.
To that end, the – Bafashebige – network organized on Friday and Saturday in Ngozi, discussion sessions on the importance of ICTs in the education sector in order to raise awareness of all stakeholders in the Burundian education system. According to Alexandre Nimubona, ICTs remain a contemporary and future necessity in education to increase quality. They are also facilitating tools for learning purposes and a learning discipline.
ICTs offer opportunities for distance learning, zoom conferences, document exchanges on the internet, and so on. They could be a solution to continue teaching even during times of crisis and avoid interrupting as it has happened in many countries with the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Bafashebige network asks political decision-makers, teachers, parents and students to grasp the important dimension of ICTs which have become essential on the planetary level and to make them their own.
The Bafashebige network intends to support three pilot schools in Ngozi in capacity building for ICT teachers and the provision of computers, tablets, and so forth. These are the Don Bosco High School of Burengo, the Junior Seminary of Mureke and the Allessandro Rossi High School of Muremera.