Private universities have appealed for government support in order to equip students with basic digital skills through the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) training.

ICDL is the global leading computer skills certification. The government has made it an entry point for all public servants to the labor market.

The appeal was made by Dr Callixte Kabera, the president of the private universities association, who pointed out that some universities had made the course mandatory.

Kabera said that majority of the students are currently unable to afford most resources, including computers and other digital tools.

He also said that most institutions needed a form of subsidy to be able to establish needed infrastructure.

"The challenges are many, especially for students who can’t afford these devices. Smartphones or tablets or even laptops,” said Kabera, adding "The gap is very huge in our Universities, because we can’t have laboratories to accommodate all these students. But the investment is worth it.”

Appeal to the government

According to the Kabera, policy makers need to recognize the importance of digital literacy and ICT skills, and the urgent need for a more coordinated and effective action in driving economic development across the region

"It can help in terms of employability, if students graduating are certified. The modules are very practical and needed in our day to day lives.”

But even the government has to come in.

"And given that it is now becoming a necessity, the government has to think of how students at Universities can be facilitated to get these IT tools. There is no way a student can excel without these tools.”

Kabera said he was hopeful that once addressed, the cost of using ICT would be lowered.

Kabera shared similar sentiments with Jules Safari, one of the trainers of the course.

"They are missing many opportunities. The Ministry of Education can break down this gap by allowing everyone to have access to these tools by reducing costs.”

Once it becomes affordable, Safari believes that students would benefit.

Officials respond

Yves Iradukunda, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, conceded that the world is at a time where technology is advancing quite ‘quickly’.

Iradukunda said that increasingly people’s lives are depending on technology, with the digitization of services in private companies such as banks or services in health care, trade and agriculture.

"The moment we are living in dictates that we adapt to such skills. There is an upward trend looking that the government has requested all workers to get certified.”

ICDL, among other programs, are critical to accelerate digital skills that we are looking for. Today the conversation is to mobilize more commitment and facilitate the training.

"Different partners within the ecosystem including banks, telecommunication companies, they are training their staff, and their agents. I think it’s a collective effort. We are seeing more and more adoption and the rate is increasing.”

Iradukunda says that Rwanda has created partnerships to lower the price of the courses and that the idea is to increase capacity of training within schools and other structures.

Govt to phase out uncertified workers

Iradukunda also disclosed that public servants have been given three years to undergo the course by the Ministry of Public Service and Labor.

He said that Rwanda has a plan to train her citizens and in particular in government offices, where it is expected that at least 60 percent of adults and 100 percent of the youth are digitally literate by 2024.

"It is a new program where government employees will have to go through this training, it is an ongoing enrollment. This is one of the many different efforts. It is also an entry point for applicants.”