By STEVEN ZANDE – GOVERNMENT will this year recruit 200 teachers to undertake Information Communication Technology (ICT) lessons in public schools, in readiness for this year’s examinations in computer skills. The Ministry of General Education had last year, introduced ICT lessons in public schools but this had been hampered by a shortfall of teachers. General Education spokesperson, Hillary Chipango said the ministry was working on modalities to recruit more teachers in ICT. He said the planned recruitment was one of the measures aimed at ensuring pupils in schools were adequately prepared for the examinations. “I can confirm that this year, we are recruiting 200 ICT teachers as a measure to cushion the low number of teachers specialised in computer studies,” Mr Chipango said. Last year, the Ministry of General Education integrated computer lessons in the school curriculum, with the view to introducing pupils to computer skills at an early stage. However, because of inadequate computers and power outages, pupils in some schools had to write their computer examinations in the late hours last year. Mr Chipango said Government was working towards averting a repeat of last year’s experience and had since started procuring computers for schools in readiness for the 2016 end-of-year examinations. He said currently, the relevant department was in discussion with the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) to set up computer centres in schools. The ministry was also engaging business entities to help procure solar power systems and generators for places without electricity. “This year we want to prepare adequately for the computer lessons, this includes providing alternative energy sources in places without electricity,” Mr Chipango said.