Africa has the youngest population in the world, with nearly 60% of its people under 25. Investing in educational technology and equipping young Africans with digital skills are essential for the future workforce. This guarantees that they will become prepared for jobs in the new economy.
Zambia has sought collaboration with Egypt and Malaysia to integrate digital technology into its education system nationwide, announced a press release dated September 4. This was during a Bilateral meeting with Egypt's Minister of Education, Mohamed Abdel Latif, on the sidelines of UNESCO's Digital Learning Week in Paris.
Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary, Noriana Muneku, emphasized Zambia's political commitment, saying: “It’s important to leverage partnerships with countries like Egypt, which have successfully navigated similar challenges. As Zambia prepares to pilot educational technology initiatives alongside five other countries under the Southern African Development Community, this collaboration is timely.”
In a separate meeting, Muneku also engaged Malaysia's Minister of Education, Fadhlina Sidek, outlining Zambia's interest in forming a meaningful partnership to further integrate technology into schools.
Recognizing the need for digital transformation in various strategic sectors, Zambia has launched the National Digital Transformation Strategy 2023–2027. In the education sector, several initiatives aim to enhance digital literacy and skills across all levels. The government has introduced an ICT curriculum in secondary schools to develop citizens' skills and capacity. Additionally, a center of excellence has been established at the Zambia University of Technology to support the growth of ICT professionals.
Many higher education institutions now offer ICT-related training, and the ICT Association of Zambia (ICTAZ) was created to regulate the conduct of ICT professionals. Digital equipment has also been introduced in some schools.
This development is seen as a crucial step toward modernizing Zambia's education system and enhancing digital literacy among students.
Hikmatu Bilali
