Macha Works Zambia

Over 50 primary and secondary school teachers, over 30% of all teachers from all 12 primary schools at the rural Macha Zone signed up for LinkNet Information Technology Academy (LITA) classes in computer literacy. Curriculum is based upon International Computer Drivers License accreditation. Each teacher has committed over 4 hours of training a day for 4 months. The first thirty teachers attend LITA ICT education daily, in the new LITA building at Ubuntu Campus.

Macha Works Zambia, LinkNet Information Technology Academy (LITA) center is an accredited International Computer Drivers License (ICDL) center. ICDL Centres are permitted to offer ICDL Training, use the ICDL syllabus and training materials, and LITA is also set up to run ICDL Examinations. Accredited centres have been tested for their proven track record in delivering quality training, their facilities have been deemed to be of a high standard, and their trainers have passed advanced ICDL qualifications. This is an other 'first', a training and exam center in rural Zambia!

Consider Mudenda kicked off well during the first day of solid lessons at LinkNet Information Technology Academy (LITA) today. A total of 28 students were enrolled in LITA Class A, 2009. Students will sit in training two hours a day for the next three months, aiming at International Computer Drivers License examination in 7 subjects. Lessons will are prepared and given by both LITA teachers, Consider Mudenda and Daniel Mashata.

LinkNet Information Technology Academy (LITA) is officially registered as a TEVET Institution to provide training up to Level 4 (Certificate) of the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Qualitfications Framework and is classified in Grade Two.

Today marked the beginning of a new season for LITA with the start of 'Class of 2008'.

For the very first time LITA opened its doors to provide public computer classes to the community at large. After several weeks of sorting through applications and setting up curriculum, the LITA staff welcomed 27 new students today. Student were enrolled from as far away as Kitwe (Central Province) and Mukinge (Northwest Province) with the majority coming from the greater Macha (Southern Province) area.

The 2008 LinkNet Information Technology Academy Implementation plan is now published. This plan covers the goals for 2008 as well as some of the training structures that will be used. Comments welcome.

This past week LinkNet celebrated the graduation of the very first class from the LinkNet Information Technology Academy. This inaugural class of nine students had successfully completely the four month training program to become Computer Technicians which began in June.  LITA was also honored to have Dr. Charles K. Wamukwamba, the Dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Zambia present to witness the event. 

LinkNet's co-operation with the University of Zambia (UNZA) has entered a new phase. Now six UNZA students are at Macha for a period of four weeks practicals at LITA. They participate in classes in the morning and do practical work in the afternoon. Each student is keeping a blog of her/his experiences at Macha, worth a visit at:

• http://philsprofiles.blogspot.com/
• http://www.jerryzmacha.blogspot.com/
• http://www.thandy-thandiwe.blogspot.com/
• http://www.bkamanga.blogspot.com/
• http://tibahk.blogspot.com/
• http://wwwmwaleswedeyahoocom-swordman.blogspot.com/

The relationship of LinkNet as implementation partner of CDC & Ministry of Health's SmartCare program is strengthening. Currently LinkNet is hosting CDC at Macha Mission Hospital to facilitate CDC's work in development of further modules. Also discussions as to how to utilise the wonderful LITA facilities for training are underway. In the mean time, this afternoon the SmartCare experts Derrick Muneene (CDC) and Chanda Mubanga-Chipoya (MoH), supported by LinkNet's Otzbert Kasokola and Macha Hospital's Justina are training health professionals in Macha in the use of the system.

ABSTRACT:

As LinkNet has grown as an organization over the past several years, there has been an increasing demand for structured training of the current and future employees. Thus the LinkNet Information Technology Academy (LITA) has been started. The strategy for this training school is to focus on both the field of ICT and the development of person life skills.  The result has been the creation of a modular training program.  

 INTRODUCTION: