a. To introduce ICT education in all institutions of higher learning and to upgrade current ICT programmes. b. To ensure school leaving students at the secondary and techvoc level are ICT literate. c. To enable all teachers to be competent users of ICT as a tool to enhance the teaching and learning process, educational planning and administration. d. To develop special ICT education and training programmes for out of school youths, unemployed/senior citizens (in phases), physically challenged (people with special needs) and illiterates. e. To ensure sustainable ICT education and training programmes, including e-learning in collaboration with the private sector and community organisations. f. To encourage research and development in ICT and education at universities and research institutions including country specific applications. g. To develop an e-library system in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Library Board for holding national and culturally specific content and the establishment of the digitization of historical artefacts at the University of Sierra Leone. A1-4-3 Challenges a. Sustained political will to implement ICT in the education system; b. The high cost of introducing and maintaining ICT programmes in schools and institutions of higher learning; c. Training of teachers and educators in the use and application of ICT in teaching, learning, research, planning and administration; d. Integration of ICT into the existing school curriculum; e. Providing basic infrastructure (such as solar energy) in institutions for introducing ICT education and training programmes; and f. Resistance to change; and g. Security at all levels. A1-4-4 Targets a. Ensure that the Educational Management Information System solution is geoenabled and integrated with other information systems and databases by 2012. b. All teacher training institutions will offer basic computer literacy and ICT orientation courses based on UNESCO’s ICT Competency Framework to all incoming trainees by 2010; c. A national ICT literacy curriculum will be developed for all schools for its incorporation in the general education systems by 2010/2011. d. All tertiary education institutions will be equipped with ICTs and integrated into their academic and administrative systems by 2010/2011. ICT Policy of Sierra Leone Page 50 / 63