The
Education system of Nepal has been revolutionized by using Information &
Communication Technology (ICT) in international competency. According to the
report of “ICT in Education Master Plan 2013-2017” the Government of Nepal,
Ministry of Education has initiated the ICT as a subject and tool for the education
system with the help of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF). In this
regard, ICT is being used to upscale the education system of Nepal and get
benefits from both National and Global contexts. There are four major pillars
in the Master plan of education in ICT regarding 2013-2017 such as
infrastructure, connectivity, teaching-learning materials, and human resources.
Each pillar has its objective, strategies, activities, target, and estimated
cost. The master plan explores the lower-higher education, training,
governance, management of education. Furthermore, it also implements the plan,
monitoring, and evaluation of the plan.
The previous three-year plan (2011-2013) of the Government of Nepal (Nepal Planning Commission, 2011) has upgraded the quality of education in rural areas of Nepal by the use of ICT. Based on the report of “ICT in Education Master Plan 2013-2017” some fundamental principles regarding developing and working on the educational master plan.
- It should be reduced the digital gap in the education system of Nepal.
- ICT is used as a tool for teaching and learning.
- To promote educational access to all the respective ages, ethnicity, disability, etc.
- To increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the management system of education.
Major highlights of
"ICT in Education Master Plan 2013 - 2017" are as follows
Component 1: Development
of ICT Infrastructure:
In this sector majorly develop and foster the ICT equipment (computer, laptop, desktop, projector, etc), internet connectivity, multimedia classroom (various types of CD and DVD), virtual data center (cloud-based), and educational resource sharing platform (e-library). The development and completion of this project need some strategies as follows.
- Create an ICT-enabled learning environment such as a private-public partnership in educational institutions.
- Explore and expand the internet access to educational institutions with the help and collaboration of Nepal Telecom Authority and other Internet broadband company.
- Increases the access of learning resources through common sharing platforms such as local center, web-based (youtube), podcast, CD, DVD, etc.
Component 2:
Development of Human Resources:
Human
resources is a basic need for the development and fostering of ICT in
education. In terms of ICT, human resources classify as ICT teachers, ICT
trainers, ICT decorater, decision-makers, and managers in the education system
and educational institutions. To pursue the development of human resources,
there are some major points to be followed such as
- Train the teacher's skills for ICT based education such by organizing workshops, seminars, etc
- Develop an encouraging and productive policy-making environment for managing ICT in education.
- Increases the human resources competencies in ICT by promoting, integrating ICT skills in the education sector.
Component 3: Development of Digital Learning Materials
ICT
is the backbone for the development of digital learning materials. The NCF integrated
the ICT in education as a tool for effective pedagogy by developing interchangeable
meaningful and easily understandable digital content such as PowerPoint documents,
animated videos, audiobooks, podcasts, e-library, etc.
Component 4:
Enhancement of Education System
ICT is a productive tool for fostering a service delivery system to establish good governance, transparency, efficiency, and accountability in the education sector. The use of innovative tools of ICT has improved the database, manage information systems by contributing decision-making process, reviewed and formulation of policies of ICT in the global context, data security, cyber ethics. Some major points are followed regarding the enhancement of the education system.
- Develop and strengthen policy and regulatory provisions for effective and efficient use of ICT in education
- Promote Research and Development system in education
- Enhance the Management Information System (MIS) and Office Automation System (OAS) in the
This
is the five-year master plan of ICT in the education sector. In each compartment,
the evaluation committee should be looked very closely for implementing these
above points.
Source: https://www.moe.gov.np/assets/uploads/files/ICT_MP_2013_(Final)_.pdf
Certainly, integration of ICT in education helps to enhance quality of education. This review helps us to understand that efforts have been made by Government of Nepal and Ministry of Education to integrate ICT for development of ICT infrastructures, human resources, digital learning materials and enhancement of education system.
ReplyDeleteThe integration of ICT in education is a must and growing gradually however it seems that the progress quite slow to meet the target set by the plan.
ReplyDeleteworld is being digitalized. The intergration is ICT has become a basic need to cope up in international market. the master plan policy is really great. After this plan have we reached to the target that they have assumed?
ReplyDeletethe plan seems very ambitious. what are its challanges?
ReplyDelete