Definition of Data

data is not defined

Main Focus of Document

This policy is specific to ICT in the education sector

Target Beneficiaries or Sector

students, teachers, schools

Key Elements

Some of the issues that the ICTE policy addresses include:  
 
• ICT Curriculum: Curriculum reform across all subjects to integrate ICT, not just as ICT courses. 
• Commitment to ICT: Improving the level of buy-in for ICT integration and mitigating poor connectivity, lack of computers, lack of knowledge, etc.
• Resource Sufficiency and Support: Improving the level of resources and ICT support in schools for effective utilisation of ICT. 
• Professional Development for Teachers: Developing a critical mass of ICT-trained teachers to effect a magnitude level of improvement in ICT integration in education.  
• ICT for Special Needs: Using ICT to improve learning outcomes for learners with special needs.  
• Monitoring and Evaluation of ICT Impact: ICT integration requires significant levels of investment in time and money. Monitoring and evaluation of ICT initiatives must be paramount. 
• Insufficient and Inadequate Educational Software: Beyond access to computers and bandwidth, teachers must become familiar with ICT-related educational resources, such as education management information systems (EMISs), learning management systems (LMSs) and the myriad of tools for engaging students using free and open source software. 
• Open Educational Resources: A critical factor for success is the creation of local open educational resources (OER). Fostering the use and creation of OER is important for sustainable integration of ICT in education. 
 
Guiding Philosophy for ICTE 
A critical success factor for system-wide adoption and deployment of ICTE is the existence of a guiding philosophy that makes very clear to all engaged and impacted what are the core beliefs regarding ICTE. Embracing the philosophy will nurture synergy, commitment, consistency and efficiency in the application of ICTE. The following philosophical statements embrace and build upon the foundations of the previous draft ICTE policies.  
 
Accessibility to and utilisation of knowledge are fundamental to national development  
 ● All students must have access to modern computer-based tools to make viable contributions to society. 
● ICTE facilitates lifelong learning as well as new and innovative ways of thinking. 
● The effective deployment of ICTE can help to democratise education, thereby promoting equity and education for all.
● The integration of ICT in the education system has significant potential for positively impacting Saint Lucia’s economic growth.
● Knowledge creation and development and the assimilation and utilisation of indigenous knowledge are also essential to citizens’ development. 
● The integration of ICTE will increase the creation of knowledge and Technology, in particular software solutions and information systems that are relevant and instrumental in the development processes of all sectors of society.
● ICT using innovative methods allows students greater control over their learning and thus enables them to develop skills at their own level and pace. 
● The potential of all individuals, including learners with special needs, adult learners, etc., can be enhanced through the effective use of ICT. 
● ICT can promote co-creation in education amongst students, between students and teachers, and amongst teachers. Co-creation of digital resources can without difficulty be scaled beyond national boundaries. 
● The utilisation of computerised management tools can strengthen the institutional capacity of the MOE, district education offices and schools. 
● The implementation and sustenance of ICT projects in the education system must be done by a partnership approach involving the community, private and public organisations, and funding agencies.
● ICT can help to lower the costs associated with the delivery of quality education. 
● The copyright laws of Saint Lucia must be respected by all individuals involved in the incorporation of ICT into the education system. 
● Releasing educational materials developed with public funds under open licences is useful for sharing and creating new educational materials without duplication of effort and respects the rights of the copyright holder. 
● ICTE prepares students to be ready for the digital world. 
● Technology can be used to make the teaching–learning process more interactive and engaging, leading to improved learning outcomes. 
● ICT can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of educational delivery.

Infrastructure and Connectivity 
IC-S1.1: The MOE will develop a minimum standard for providing ICT access in schools and establish an appropriate organisational framework, including the development of a software evaluation manual and decisions on classroom layout, to implement and manage the integration of ICT into the education system.  
IC-S1.2: The MOE will promote the use of open source software wherever possible and supply these tools to schools. This will reduce the total cost of ownership in comparison with paying for proprietary software. 
IC-S1.3: The MOE will ensure the implementation of basic infrastructure at the classroom level, including cable connections for wireless networks, electrical outlets, physical security facilities where necessary, and flexible furnishing arrangements to enable the use of ICT in a wide range of educationally innovative and varied ways. 
IC-S1.4: The MOE will ensure that all primary schools are equipped with an adequate network infrastructure as well as an effective, functioning computer lab. The ICT unit within the MOE will work in collaboration with the schools to establish minimum standards for the IT network and computer labs. 
IC-S1.5: The MOE will promote the use of local networks and tools such as Aptus to share content in schools, thereby reducing the pressure on bandwidth. 
IC-S1.6: The MOE, cognisant of the potential of harm that users may be exposed to after prolonged use of computers, will ensure that standard ergonomic principles are adhered to, including the proper design of computer workstations.
IC-S2.1: The MOE will develop technical support and maintenance protocols to service the ICT needs of all users and ICT resources in the education system. 
IC-S2.2: The MOE will adopt an explicit strategy for the decentralisation of technical support (including preventative maintenance) to efficiently service the needs of all users and computers in the education system. 
IC-S3.1: The MOE will assist principals of educational institutions in ensuring that records of all software and software upgrades acquired by their institutions are kept and that their institutions have the appropriate licences for the use of such software. Such a system can be developed over a virtual private network and centrally managed. 
IC-S3.2: The MOE, in collaboration with other stakeholders, will adopt a common set of standards for hardware and system architecture for use in the education system and procure such items centrally to take advantage of bulk purchase discounts. 
IC-S3.3: The MOE will consider other forms of equipment acquisition, such as leasing, which involve shared risk.  
IC-S3.4: The MOE will expand and improve connectivity and internet access across the education system on an ongoing basis, with a particular focus on widening access to include classrooms (through wireless hotspots).  
IC-S3.5: The MOE will establish an Informatics Unit that will provide the necessary host infrastructure for systems. The infrastructure will include: a central education management information system; a learning management system to be used for supporting school learning; an open educational resource repository; and appropriate communication and social networking tools to facilitate interactions between key education stakeholders within the country. 
IC-S4.1: The MOE will support the digitisation of the West Indian collection at the central library, as the books in the collection are out of print and need to be preserved for future generations.  
IC-S4.2: The MOE will establish the infrastructure necessary to network all the nation’s libraries as a way of ensuring equal access to digital content no matter where one is within the country. 
IC-S5.1: The MOE will develop a comprehensive policy focusing on physical, software and hardware security.  
IC-S5.2: The MOE will identify rules and procedures for all individuals accessing and using ICT assets and resources, to protect hardware, physical and software security. 
IC-S5-3: The MOE will ensure the regular updating of software and virus protection facilities to secure the ICT infrastructure. 

Policy/Regulation Mirrors

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