Challenges and opportunities for the advancement of GIS education in Tanzania
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Date
2018
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Abstract
Rapid developments in science and technology have driven utilization of Geographical Information Science (GIS)
in various fields of Planning, Management, and exploitation of environmental resources and provision of social
services. As information technology gains momentum, GIS uses information science infrastructure to address the
problems of geography, cartography, geosciences locations and related branches of science and engineering; that
is shortly referred to as Geo-informatics. Increased application of GIS calls for more demand of advanced Geoinformatics
education worldwide. This study has established major challenges for the advancement of Geoinformatics
education in Tanzania and any possible opportunities which can be utilized for the improvement of
the same. Prominent challenges identified could be associated with lack of reliable power, internet connection,
computer system and accessories and appropriate software. Other challenges were related to the nature of the
school curriculum and insufficient knowledge and skills of the human resources. Opportunities identified involve
available government plans for increasing power supply, increasing mobile phones networks, Tanzania ICT and
education and training policy with a major aim of improving ICT education and the competency based school
curriculum under implementation. But the government should further support directly or indirectly all efforts by
various groups that participate in advancing Geo-informatics education in the country.
Description
Journal of Education and Practice 2017, Vol. 8(28)
Keywords
Transfer of Technology, Geo-informatics, GIS, Education