Collisions between the Worldviews of International ICT Policy-Makers and a Deep Rural Community in South Africa: Assumptions, Interpretation, Implementation, and Reality

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to understand and learn from the collisions between the underlying assumptions embedded in UNESCO's ICT Competency Standards for Teachers policy framework and the realities that face a deep rural Afrocentric community in South Africa. These collisions ultimately are about the manifestation of a deeper issue, namely collisions between worldviews. Although some preliminary issues regarding policy conflicts are highlighted, the primary focus is on understanding collisions that have emerged from the community entry phases of policy alignment and the introduction of the ICT for Development (ICT4D) artifact. A critical theoretical underpinning is presented which also constitutes the departing values and thinking pursued by a team of academics which, in collaboration with local community visionaries, facilitates ongoing ICT training initiatives in the community. The author writes from his position as the "outsider" champion in this project; and due to his commitment and the length of time that he has been immersed in the training and all other aspects of the project, an ethnographic approach is adopted. The paper contributes to ICT4D discourses by representing a South African perspective on the international ICT policy frameworks. Consequently, compelling issues for further research are highlighted, including examples and practical guidelines for international ICT policy alignment and implementation in the deep rural Afrocentric context.

Conceptualizing development in information and communication technology for development (ICT4D)

“…Escobar (1995) argues that development is a socially constructed discourse of Western ideology of modernity, which gives rise to the post-colonial and post-development theories (see De' et al in press in this special issue). Critical ICT4D research seeks to unveil the power structure and ideological biases behind development discourses (Díaz Andrade & Urquhart, 2012;Krauss, 2013;Thompson, 2004). While it is not necessary for every researcher to use critical theory, it is nevertheless beneficial for ICT4D researchers to cultivate a critical awareness and sensitivity to the assumptions, discourses, power structure, possible corporate interests and ideological influences behind ICT4D projects.…”

Technology-driven information sharing and conditional financial development in Africa

“…The positioning of this study contributes to the bulk of literature on the relevance of information technology for inclusive development, notably: socio-economic development in rural areas (Baro & Endouware, 2013); poverty concerns in urban areas (Omole, 2013) as well as community development issues in rural areas (Breytenbacha et al, 2013); education, social and human development (Shraima & Khlaifb, 2010;Gudmundsdottir, 2010;Nkansah & Urwin, 2010;Negash, 2010;Brunello, 2010;Krauss, 2013); social change and development outcomes (Brouwer & Brito, 2012;Mira & Dangersfield, 2012;Islama & Meadeb, 2012); enhancement of institutions (Asongu & Nwachukwu, 2016a) and inclusive human development (Asongu & Nwachukwu, 2016b). Hence, this inquiry complements that growing body of literature on distributional externalities (Cozzens, 2011).…”

Assessing South African ICT4D research outputs: a journal review

“…Method contributions related to impact assessment or M&E range from a high level critique on how ICT4D projects are evaluated , to the development of a more hands-on process assessment framework (Osah, Pade-Khene, & Foster, 2013). General method or process related contributions include studies on project selection (Plauché, Waal, Grover, & Gumede, 2010), user requirements elicitation (Mamba & Isabirye, 2015), project management (Pade-Khene, Mallinson, & Sewry, 2011), policy evaluation (Krauss, 2013), systems thinking (Turpin & Alexander, 2014) and research philosophy (van Zyl, 2015). As can be seen, a variety of topics and angles are covered.…”