Kenya Star
27 Feb 2020, 10 GMT+10
Emmanuel Ngendakuriyo, Founder and Executive Director of Computers for Schools Burundi (CfSB) believes that ICT integration into the Burundian education system and focused education for innovation in e-waste management are key to capitalize on Fourth Industrial Revolution opportunities.
A principal goal of CfSB is to modernize the Burundi education system through universal ICT education in primary and secondary schools, thereby creating access to and equity in digital skills for Burundian youth. The vision is to promote and integrate the use of ICT and 21st Century skills into primary and secondary schools as the main engine of sustainable development in Burundi. The mission focuses on delivering quality ICT education to all Burundian school-age youth, thereby creating a solid foundation for the development of future innovation, industrialization, science, technology integration; eventually resulting in poverty reduction and allowing Burundi's citizens to participate in and join as global citizens in the global economy.
CfSB participates in the government's Five Schools of Excellence project, which aims to prepare Burundi's youth to become leaders in scientific research, ICT innovation, and administration in both the private and public sectors. The Burundi government set up the Five Schools of Excellence project (2016-2017) to prepare Burundian youth to acquire the 21st Century skill sets necessary to assume future leadership positions in public and private administration, scientific research centers and be part of digital innovation initiatives. The schools are located throughout the country with student selection criteria based on Burundi's national test. Applicants complete a test of French and Mathematics which determines the highest-scoring Burundian students at the end of the school year.
One CfSB project goal is to equip each School of Excellence with ICT Labs, coupled with best digital pedagogy practices teacher training to facilitate student centered education. Innovation, creativity, and digital entrepreneurship are crucial 21st Century skills for underserved Burundian youth to acquire. The CfSB project is intended to serve as an inspiration and best practices guide for the Education Ministry and Burundi's secondary schools. During school holidays, students and the community surrounding the equipped schools use the computer labs to benefit their community with continued ICT training.
The current CfSB curriculum focuses on 21st-century skills that today's students need to succeed in their careers, addressing the increasing power of technology and digitization. A majority of African firms report very low to moderate levels of business preparedness among recent school graduates for five key Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies: "Failure to recognize and capitalize on [Fourth Industrial Revolution] opportunities, conversely, will impose considerable risks on African stakeholders: Without attempts to move beyond existing models of innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital growth on the continent, African businesses risk falling further behind" (Ndung'u & Sign, 2020, p. 62).
CfSB has partnered with Rotary Clubs, nationally and internationally. Rotary is made up of three parts: clubs, Rotary International, and The Rotary Foundation. Collectively, Rotary works to make lasting change in communities and around the world. CfSB, the Rotary Club Bujumbura-Doyen, the Rotary Club Ottawa, and the Rotary Club West Ottawa are working together to analyze a possible grant application through Rotary International. The Rotary Club of New York is providing additional funding. The active board of CfSB is composed of members of local, regional, international companies, nongovernmental organizations, and the government.
A renewed focus on universal access to and equity in ICT for Burundian youth requires a two-pronged approach: investment in ICT equipment and implementation of ICT curricula with targeted efforts to develop 21st-century skillsets. The partnership between Computers for Schools Burundi, Rotary and the Five Schools of Excellence is an African trailblazer harnessing the power of multiple stakeholders for the common good of Burundian youth.
(Author: Jasmin Bey Cowin, EdD, Assistant Professor and Practicum Coordinator, TESOL and Bilingual Department, Graduate School of Education, Touro College
Vice President, Chair-Elect 2021
Teaching English as a Second Language Organization
New York, USA
CfSB Sustainability Analyst
Avenue de l,ONU No 3
Bujumbura-Burundi
together with:
Emmanuel Nngendakuriyo, Founder and Executive Director, Computers for Schools Burundi (CfSB), Avenue de l,ONU No 3, Bujumbura-Burundi.
Get a daily dose of Kenya Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kenya Star.
More InformationThe expansion of the Port of Durban precinct would require R100 billion in new investment over the next decade, according ...
Wily former Peruvian World Cup player Augusto Palacios, who is one of only a couple of the 20 head coaches ...
There is so much potential in a legal cannabis sector in South Africa, but we are being left behind in ...
As of Sunday, South Africa recorded a total of 1 566 769 confirmed Covid-19 cases.1 089 new cases were recorded ...
Hong Kong, April 19 (ANI): One of China's strengths - as an authoritarian communist state - is its ability to ...
N'DJAMENA, CHAD - The Chadian military said it had halted an advance by rebels coming from neighboring Libya, but the ...
© Provided by Xinhua Australian prime minister said the opening of the travel bubble with New Zealand, marking the first ...
By John SolomouNicosia [Cyprus], April 19 (ANI): A day after the Iranian government unveiled its new uranium enrichment centrifuges in ...
New Delhi [India], April 19 (ANI): Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer has confirmed that he would be participating in this ...
Twelve of Europe's most powerful clubs announced the launch of a breakaway European Super League on Monday in a potentially ...
Sindh [Pakistan], April 19 (ANI): Several areas of Hyderabad in the Sindh province of Pakistan is facing prolonged power outages ...
Paris [France], April 19 (ANI): From one extreme to the other. In India, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is ...
DUBLIN, Ireland - Following its successful acquisition of Hollywood-based Blindlight, Irish video-gaming company Keywords Studios has now announced its latest accomplishment. Keywords r ...
Read More