JUSTIFICATION

Edutanzania invites all educational institutions in the country to go digital.  To fear change and to persist in our old habits of doing things is to court disaster. Way back in 1936, AgfaPhoto pioneered the marketing of colour film, and at the close of the 20th century, AgfaPhoto was the undisputable giant in producing photographic film. Now AgfaPhoto has been relegated to the dustbin of history. Why? Because they ignored the signs on the wall. About ten years before their collapse, they were advised to switch to digital technology. They refused. And as a result, AgfaPhoto has been swept away by the tide of new technology.

Not so long ago, here in Tanzania, typewriters were such indispensable tools in government and business offices that many people thought computers could not possibly replace typewriters, at least not in their lifetimes. History has demonstrated that they were wrong. Professors who feared and hated computers are now learning the hard way!

Only fifteen years ago, text-based systems of communication like letters, telex, and faxes dominated the scene. Few people now lick the stamp. Cell phones, e-mails, telecommunication and blogs have largely replaced letters. Likewise, digital technology has revolutionized libraries and delivery systems of education.

From 1830 -1831 Southeast England witnessed the Swing Riots. Farm labourers and artisans rebelled against the use of machines on farms because they were taking away their jobs. They thought the solution was to destroy the machines! They failed to read the signs and portents of the times. Ours, therefore, is a modest attempt to encourage school managers to recognize and creatively exploit this technology in improving education in Tanzania.

The fact that EduTanzania receives dozens of enquiries everyday from European and American educational researchers and other interested parties is a source of great inspiration to us. It is an unintended dividend, and we are proud to serve as a link between schools and interested researchers.

We know that prejudices and old ideas do not die easily. They die hard. But, die they must. Join us now. Go digital.