ZICTA to monitor internet at schools

INTERNET

By Edith Mwale, Lusaka, Zambia

The Zambian Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) has pledged continued commitment to the provision of ICTs in all learning institutions in the country to ensure enhanced access to information.

ZICTA director general Margaret Mudenda said the institution has embarked on a massive programme to promote ICTs in schools across the country in order to enhance access to information.

Mudenda however, said ZICTA will at the same time continue to monitor the use of internet services in the country, especially among schoolchildren.

And the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Service Amos Malupenga called on ZICTA to regulate and prevent the misuse of internet services among pupils, to ensure that they concentrate on school instead of abusing the internet.

“We are facing challenges in the advancement of the information and communication technologies (ICTs) in Zambia,” Malupenga said.

Mobile internet is said to be disturbing children’s concentration in school as they spend most of the time charting on the phone and exchange love messages on social networks resulting in poor performance.

Last month, a regional economic group, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), demanded regulated access to the internet for pupils in the region to protect their morals.

Comesa said it is concerned about the abuse of internet service by schoolchildren in the region, which has the potential to corrupt morals.