Spend wisely on ICT, schools told

THE Director-General of Education yesterday reminded school leaders to invest wisely in information communication technology (ICT), amidst the national education system's thrust towards more technology-driven innovation in education.

"Take extra caution when it comes to spending the allocated fund, and to ensure that purchasing is done objectively and thoughtfully, to cater to the needs of schools and students," Pg Hjh Sarah Pg Hj Kamaluddin said.

The development of a national education system for the 21st century, SPN21, launched in 2009 and the complementing e-Hijrah initiative launched earlier this year were meant to prepare students "for life" by the year 2035, when Brunei aims to be recognised for its well-educated and highly-skilled people.

"In the 21st century context, the use of ICT in every aspect of our lives is, and is increasingly becoming, ingrained in our mindset and culture. Indeed, the use of ICT and our adaptation to it is happening almost unconsciously," said Pg Hjh Sarah at the opening of a three-day e-Hijrah workshop.

In this regard, the director-general stressed the need to understand the impacts of incorporating ICT in managing schools and equipping school leaders' capacity in ICT, which the Ministry of Education is currently working together with the e-Government National Centre to do so.

"This is important because if we are to build innovation through ICT in education, we must build a strong supporting and sustaining foundation first," she said.

The e-Hijrah team was in the "final stages" of setting up this "foundation", she added.

"As practitioners, we must clearly focus on the impacts and needs of teachers and the further support and development they will require as we get socialised with the coming of this dramatic technological revolution in our schools."

An invited speaker from Imagine Education Ltd, a UK-based consultancy firm that specialises in helping organisations worldwide capitalise on ICT's impact on teaching and learning, described school leaders as the "integral cog" in changing schools.

"Technology is only effective if the teacher has thought about the purpose of their lesson... (and whether) the technology supports the objective of that lesson," said Adrian Blight.

"Sometimes, the best lessons have no technology (involved)."

"If it doesn't change the learning of the students, then don't buy it," he said, pointing out that the money spared could instead be spent on field trips and other educational tools or activities.

The Brunei Times