Prospecting Technology Advancement in Liberia
By Taa Wongbe
The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
February 12, 2004
With the new peace agreement in Liberia and the existence of a new interim
government, Liberia looks to a new chapter in redevelopment and emphasizing
on essentials like health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, electricity,
water, housing and communication. However, with the limited resources
available, the country will look to private companies to assist in the
rebuilding of Liberia; particularly, Information Technology.
Much of the world, it seems is taking little notice of the emersion
of the immense use of technology in Africa. This is perhaps because
Africa has more pressing problems at hand than poor technology infrastructure.
It is easy to dismiss these discussions and technologies as lacking
importance or as inappropriate in light of more pressing needs such
as education, primary health care and aids awareness. This organization
does not seek to patronize the lack of technology advancement in Liberia
and other African country, but however seeks to acknowledge the potential
trends of the use of technology in Liberia and the rest of Africa and
the need for human capital to support these new technological advancements.
Obviously, technologies that directly address those areas deserve our
focus and energies as priorities.
I am convinced, however, that there is no emerging use of technology
that holds greater potential to indirectly and directly affect change
in the above-mentioned areas and others than that of the Internet. In
large portions of rural Africa the issue of getting connected is not
an urgently important one, but in the urban centers all over Africa
like Monrovia, it has long since taken root as a high priority need
for thousands of Liberians. Internet cafes and public access centers
are thriving in nearly every country and Liberia is no exception. European
and US based companies are investing in former state owned telecoms
all over Africa. The Africa One Project, an undersea cable that will
surround the continent, holds out great promise for the future. The
percentage of users is growing at rates faster than almost any other
area of the world.
For third world countries like Liberia to enter and compete in the computer
age, Students and Teachers would need training in Information Technology.
In Liberia, more than 80% of school children graduate from school without
ever having seen or touched a computer in the classroom. Furthermore,
the teachers are not trained in the use of computers and there is no
form of Information Technology education training in the schools’
curriculum.
There is a need for the Education Ministry to institute a curriculum
with technology focus. The curriculum will help students learn about
basic computer and prepare students for the Cisco Certified Networking
Associate (CCNA) exam and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
certification, certifications that position students for immediate openings
in a needed Information Technology job market.
Companies like Geekcorp.org (http://geekcorps.org/ ) have been instrumental
in helping countries in Africa with teaching technology. But they do
not venture in countries that are war torn.
Technology is advancing and Liberia cannot be left behind. Technological
advancement will help in student participating in programs by the African
Virtual University, an interactive-instructional telecommunications
network established to serve the countries of Africa. The objective
of the AVU is to build capacity and support economic development by
leveraging the power of modern telecommunications technology to provide
world-class quality education and training programs to students and
professionals in Africa. However, without the existence of supporting
infrastructure, Liberia cannot be a part of this growing new avenue
of education.
About the Author: Mr. Taa Wongbe is Chief Technology Officer at Pangean Technologies, LLC (http://www.pangeantech.com)
