Computer in education. (c1994)

Abstract

Information Technology (IT) that is used by developed countries for reasons of economical and political leadership should also be adopted by developing countries, like Lebanon, if these countries wish to survive and compete internationally. However the adoption of IT means the need for information workers, and schools are considered as having a role to play in preparing the young generation to become the information society of the future. According to the results of this research, the Lebanese Ministry of Education sees the introduction of computer education into schools as an inevitable step but is found, in our opinion, to lack both the expertise and seriousness needed for the implementation of such a huge project. The obstacles for the realization of the plan stem, according to the Ministry, from financial reasons, as well as from a lack of computer-awareness at all levels. On the other hand, private schools that have been introducing computers into their institutions ever since the mid-eighties are doing a rather successful job, although unregulated and uncoordinated, in fighting computer illiteracy. However here again, expertise in both education and computer science is badly needed if the practices are ever to evolve in the right direction. The recommendations to both the Ministry and private schools stress the importance of planning and research, as well as the cooperation between experts in both education and computer science to find out how computers can be integrated into the curriculum, based on national needs, rather than merely introduced.