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Malawi |
EDUCATION
The government’s decision to remove import duty on computers, has led to an increase in the volume of Information Technology (IT) hardware being imported into the country, but some local IT providers feel most Malawians are still lagging behind in the new technology
Former finance and economic planning minister, Cassim Chilumpha quashed customs duty on computers two years ago, to enable more Malawians to join in the globalisation process. A 20% surtax is the only fee that importers of computers pay to the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA).
Derek Lakudzala, resident partner for Bumas International, a management and IT consultancy firm, says that although many Malawians have been able to acquire computer software and hardware, few have used the equipment to its maximum. He says: «The adequate use of what is available has not increased. We must address the missing link — the capacity to use the technology. There is a lack of quality training. Some training institutions are not fully qualified». It should be noted that in addition to management and consultancy, Bumas International also offers training in website and software development.
Lack of adequate computer training
Since Malawi liberalised her education sector about seven years ago, numerous private training institutions have sprouted up in the country’s cities and towns, and they offer professional courses in various fields including IT. However, most of these institutions are owned by businessmen lacking conventional qualifications. Their courses last between six to nine months, covering two hours a day. These same businessmen take advantage of the poverty-stricken situation of thousands of school leavers, who are hard put to afford the proper training offered by conventional institutions such as The Polytechnic of the University of Malawi and the Malawi College of Accountancy.
«Just take a look at what kind of training is given in such establishments», says Lakudzala. «It’s not to-day’s technology, it’s yesterday’s. Theoretical training is all well and good, but adequate training must also offer practical skills».
Last year, the government last year launched the Sustainable Development Network Programme (SDNP) and mandated it to develop and provide e-mail and Internet services. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)–funded project which operates in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) is also involved in the drafting of an information communication technology policy.
«Education is a very critical part. You need to produce graduates. Even Form Four (Ordinary Level) pupils can be very useful. Right now opportunities for training are all-important», says SDNP coordinator, Paulos Nyirenda.
But Nyirenda says if that Malawi is to benefit economically from the new technology, she should not remain just an IT consumer. Nyirenda gives the example of some Asian countries that have turned from being IT consumers, to becoming producers. They have achieved this by designing and repairing software for western countries.
Although more IT equipment has been imported into the country since the year 2000, only a few of Malawi’s over 10 million people have access to computers and the Internet. The few public Internet cafes available, are confined to the cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe Mzuzu and the municipality of Zomba.
Each of the country’s 24 districts has an average of 16 government and ministry departments and parastatals, but only about three offices have computer hardwares. With the country’s illiteracy rate of 60%, most Malawians have yet to embrace the IT.
But Salimu Makani, managing director for IT Centre, a Blantyre-based firm dealing in IT, feels Malawi has not lagged behind in IT and she is competing highly with the developed world. He says the arrival of the e-mail and the Internet has changed most people’s way of thinking and general approach to life. Makani says many students could use the Internet for their studies, and, «the world has become a much smaller place today because of electronic communications».
«However», continues Makeni, «not all students have Internet access. IT technology is concentrated in the hands of a few, and I think it should be incorporated in the country’s public education system. The impact would be wonderful. Currently, none of the country’s public primary and secondary schools offer computer lessons. This means that thousands of students who complete secondary school education each year, face the world without any basic computer skills. Even those who graduate in the computer science programme from the Chancellor College of the University of Malawi, have difficulties in understanding how hardware and software packages work. We have to train them all over again. However, I welcome the government’s move to reduce customs duties on IT hardware. When the tax was high, it was extremely difficult to buy a computer».
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