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Public further education and training (FET) colleges are set to benefit from efforts by the Department of Communications (DoC) and the Meraka Institute.
The aim is to introduce the concept of wireless mesh and community networks as content to their information and communications technology (ICT) curriculum. The Meraka Institute is a national research centre managed by the CSIR.
The DoC is determined to address the ICT skills shortage in South Africa and had discussions with the Meraka Institute regarding contributions to the ICT curriculum at FET colleges. Public FET colleges strive to provide high-quality education and training to help equip young people with the qualifications and skills needed to start out on a chosen career path. The DoC believes FET colleges are well placed to address part of this skills shortage.
The Meraka Institute recently participated in an ICT expo at the Ekurhuleni West Public FET College. As part of this expo, the institute's Sherrin Isaac facilitated a workshop with representatives from the DoC, FET and the institute.
The purpose of the workshop was to explore the role that the institute could play in curriculum development and the concept of wireless mesh and community networks was introduced.
Following the positive response by the participants at this workshop, the Meraka Institute and the DoC will develop a programme for introducing this concept to the FET colleges. Curriculum will be developed by curriculum experts, with inputs from the wireless mesh research group at the Meraka Institute.
Contact Sam Skosana, email smskosana@csir.co.za.
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