Information Communication Technology in Sierra Leone : Creating a Foundation for ICT Advancement Through Web Development, Teaching and Networking in Sierra Leone

Abstract

This project is about information communication technology (ICT) in Sierra Leone, focusing on work in web design and development, teaching and networking. The author spent four weeks developing a website in Joomla for the University of Sierra Leone - Institute of Public Administration and Management, an online application form for the university, and a website for the First Lady’s office. There were issues with internet availability, hosting and domain name servers (DNS), as well as compatibility with the skills of those in the office, which will be addressed in this paper. Second, the author spent four weeks teaching programming and web design to year 1 and year 2 students, and was able to understand the curriculum used at the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM). Additionally, the author also did some networking at a client’s hotel with supervisors, which mainly involved working with cable testers, cable crimpers and wiring modems and routers. This paper describes and explains the experiential process of achieving these goals. Coming from a third world country myself, the author saw the opportunity to render her skills to another third world country, as well as build global connections and study the ICT sector of Sierra Leone. It was suited to her skills and she had a genuine interest in the topic. The author’s experience resulted in: a thorough understanding of the curriculum of the ICT curriculum taught at IPAM; ways in which one can effectively incorporate web technologies in higher education and in social justice; the lack of resources in the ICT sector; and the ways in which Sierra Leone can move forward, all of which will be explained in this paper. Her findings suggest that currently, Sierra Leone is ripe with the burst of a new era in ICT. As soon as ICT is developed, especially in terms of fiber optic cables and having trained I.T. individuals in all sectors, especially in the universities as the foundation, greater economic growth can be expected.