Singapore schools can hire full-time Infocomm Technology (ICT) Executives from July to manage their ICT projects and implement new solutions that support teaching and learning.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) gave this go-ahead today as part of the national move to create an engaging learning environment for students and provide schools with the professional and technical support.
A study carried out last year to review ICT support required in schools found that in the drive towards more ICT integration in the curriculum, school ICT projects are getting increasingly sophisticated and require greater technical support.
The ICT executives will come in handy in handling this influx of tasks.
Some of the roles of an ICT Executive:
To manage the implementation of ICT projects in schools, and assist the Head of Department (Information Technology) in IT planning and introducing new ICT solutions that support teaching and learning.
Execute daily ICT operational and administrative duties, such as procurement and inventory management.
With the support of the ICT Executive, the HOD (IT) will have more time and space to work with other HODs and teachers in integrating ICT with the curriculum.
This will create an engaging learning environment for the students, as they are exposed to technology and communication tools in their lessons to access and manage knowledge .
The Ministry will provide a grant of $20.7 million for schools to engage additional ICT support staff, including ICT executives.
The recent initiative is in line with the IT Masterplan in Education, launched in 1997, which seeks to equip the young with essential learning, creative thinking and communication skills that will help prepare them for the workplace of the future.
It also seeks to make learning more engaging for students through the integration of ICT in the curriculum.
IT support for schools has been centrally provided as part of the IT Masterplan since 1999.
The support includes helpdesk, desktop support, network/server management, asset management and the provision of a Technology Assistant for every school.
