(Ecofin Agency) - Gabonese government decided to equip colleges and high schools with computers rooms with broadband internet. This was on last January 10, during a council of minister.

In this framework, the related school’s buildings will be restored. They will also purchase and distribute computers in the schools, implement a security and maintenance system for the equipment, establish a training program as well as select trainers.    

Once operational, the computer rooms will be added to “Train my Generation” program initiated in 2015 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 

Through this, Gabonese government wants to fast-track development of computer and digital skills for a large part of youth. 

This measure, which precisely falls in line with the Digital Gabon plan’s objectives in education, aims to provide young Gabonese with basic ICT skills which will enable them to deal with the world’s high digital evolution.

Gabon is one of the rare African countries with a high penetration rate for ICT. It is at 15.5% according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in its 2017 “measuring the information society” report.   

Yet, according to the world economic forum’s 2016 “Networked Readiness Index”, the ICT literacy rate should be improved in the country.