(671)ICT AND EDUCATION IN AFRICA: A PARADIGM SHIFT IN TEACHERPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE GAMBIA

摘要

The Gambia was a recipient of the World Bank’s World Links for Development (WorLD)pilot programme (1997-2001) which is part of the bank’s educational projects indeveloping countries which focused on the promotion of new and better ways ofachieving effective learning through the use of technology. This study investigatedwhether concerns of the WorLD Programme teachers in The Gambia, regarding the noneffectiveutilisation of ICT in education in achieving professional teacher development,prevailed in other WorLD schools throughout Africa. The framework was to conduct afocus study interview with project teachers, administer questionnaires to determineteachers’ concerns regarding the WorLD Programme and other factors contributing to thesuccess or failure of the Programme in their schools. An evaluative research method wasused to investigate benchmarks developed as possible indicators to achieve projectobjectives. The study found out that despite the key role of ICT in improving the qualityand delivery of education globally, imperatives to achieving educational outcomes, suchas access to computers and Internet networking, training of educators and a supportiveworking environment were still unavailable to education role players in The Gambia. Thestudy revealed that though educators in WorLD schools have been equipped with newskills and modern insights into education. However, the project failed to achieve a greatproportion of its outcomes and impact. It was strongly recommended that the issues thathave impeded achieving the objectives of the WorLD project be addressed through anational ICT education policy to achieve future outcomes and impact.