Language key to skills development

By Candice Jones, ITWeb online telecoms editor

Johannesburg, 21 Nov 2007

Multilingual computing offers a solution to developing much needed ICT skills, and companies should take a closer look at how to implement them.

This according to Accenture SA CEO William Mzimba, speaking at ForgeAhead`s African ICT Achievers award ceremony, held at the Sandton Convention Centre, on Saturday.

Mzimba said implementing multilingual computing will boost skills development, which will positively impact the local economy.

According to him, IT environments are more multilingual than ever before: "When you access an ATM, you can choose to do it in Sepedi, or if you search on Google, you can retrieve your results in isiZulu.

"More companies need to start looking at how language impacts on ICT and ICT development, particularly in the rural areas. The most important aspect of African development is not just digital inclusion, but empowerment. This can be in language or in business."

Accenture was named the most transformed ICT company in Africa at the Achievers ceremony.

According to ForgeAhead MD Jane Mosebi, in spite of great strides in the development of strategies to provide the African continent with technology and empowerment, "we have yet to achieve the economic growth rates seen in the rest of the world".

Education needs to become a private sector focus, she said. "It should not just be a question of delivering computers to schools, but they should have connectivity through broadband, they should have the appropriate mentors and skills."

The younger, the better

Allan Cawood, CEO of Dimension Data for the Middle East and Africa, said companies should make technology appropriate for the African context. "One of the ways in which we try to do this is to provide children with what we call the Saturday school."

The monthly programme has been running at the company for 13 years. "We have the campus environment, but we also provide, through the use of technology, a curriculum for children in the rural areas. It focuses on grades nine to 12 in science, communications and life skills."

Cawood said the programme involves 2 000 children, but the company hopes to have 40 000 children in its education system by 2012. "To achieve this, we plan to involve top educators, from government, and skills from the private sector."

Dimension Data won the top ICT company in Africa award.

IBM SA was recognised as the top ICT workplace provider in Africa. CEO Mark Harris said ICT education must take place at more than just university and technikon level.

He said the best place to start is by teaching young children how to use technology. "Africa`s great digital divide has occurred because we start teaching children about technology far too late. This lack of early education has contributed to the challenge in finding the right ICT skills in Africa."