President Rupiah Banda yesterday launched a highly advanced video conferencing system that will enable lecturers from Japan to teach students at the Copperbelt University and the University of Zambia at the same time.
The technology is the first ever to work in any part of the World while universities in the United States of America will be linked to the system next month.
President Banda was delighted that Zambia was pioneering a technology that would keep Zambia at an advanced stage in technology advancement ahead of the launch of the e-learning Africa conference, taking place at the Mulungushi International Conference.
Mr Banda and delegation attended a lecture which was conducted by a lecturer from CBU whose presence appeared too close and intimate to believe it was a distance lecture that was meant for his class in Lusaka and another at CBU.
[pullquote]“Let all our citizens be assured that my Government is striving to ensure that equitable and accessible education is provided to all citizens of Zambia,” President Banda said.[/pullquote]
The president learnt about the classification of copper minerals, derived from a system that was designed by Professor James Dana in 1848 in which eight different metals were listed and there chemical make up explained.
President Banda said he delighted that a project that he had discussed with directors from the World Alliance Forum had finally materialised.
“Let all our citizens be assured that my Government is striving to ensure that equitable and accessible education is provided to all citizens of Zambia,” President Banda said.
He said his Government’s commitment towards education takes from the decision to turn the former Mulakupikwa Police Training College in Chinsali and turn it into a centre that would offer mathematics, science and information and communication technology at a university level.
The president urged Communications and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa to ensure a speedy implementation of the ICT policy he launched when he was vice-president because information technology was a catalyst for economic development, which helps farmers monitor trends in agriculture.
Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Hideto Matamura said the cost of putting up the technology was offered under the Japanese official development assistance.
He hoped the system would be broadened to allow for teaching agriculture and other matters in the rural areas and this would reduce on the cost of travels to conduct education matters.
Prof Lungwangwa said the innovation was part of President Banda’s success stories and commitment towards education.
[ Times of Zambia ]