Bridge the Digital Divide for Zanzibar's Youth

Zanzibar is an island semi-autonomous part of the United Republic of Tanzania made up of two major islands, Unguja and Pemba. The Isles' population is estimated to be a total of one million nine hundred thousand (1,900,000) according to the 2022 National and Housing Census conducted.

It has been noted within Zanzibar that many students learn ICT in theory form, where practically it remains a tale. Observation data indicates that 90% of the ICT theory learners in Zanzibar do not have access to household computers. This has been generated out of the following factors:

1. Scarcity of computers to enable them to learn ICT practical skills, taking into consideration that computers are quite expensive compared to the household monthly income of the Zanzibar population. One new desktop computer amounts to not less than $350, while one new laptop, depending on the type, can rise to a relative price between $400-$1000, excluding the highly expensive ones like Apple by European and USA standards.

2. Few teachers are available within the schools who provide ICT practical learning skills to the students.

3. High cost of internet services provided to support local students to undertake practical ICT lessons.

4. Low knowledge of the teachers on the best practical and theoretical ICT teaching skills that can enable students to understand better and apply ICT in their day-to-day learning activities.

The proposed ICT for Students of Zanzibar Project seeks to advance by equipping both students and teachers with ICT theory and practical learning skills. Taking into account the transformation of science and technology, it calls for children within the primary school levels, A levels, and universities to prioritize ICT within their learning curriculum to enable them to start learning and practicing the use of computers. This plan intends to execute its proposed objectives.

The objective of this project is to focus on:

1. Building teachers' capacities in both public and private schools in Zanzibar by training them on ICT knowledge.

2. Sharing best practical skills that can be adopted by the ICT teachers to teach the students both theory and practical computer knowledge.

3. Supporting ICT at all levels by providing the schools with computers for practical ICT learning.