ICT PROFESSION OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED IN TANZANIA Tumaini Magila Communication and Information Technology Expert
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Tanzania has eventually recognized the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) profession after a long waited and historic launch of registration and recognition of the ICT profession on 7th October 2020 in Dar es Salaam by Honorable Engineer Isack Aloyce Kamwelwe, the then Minister for Works, Transport and Communication. Currently there are four registration categories namely ICT Consultant, ICT Professional, ICT Graduate and ICT Technician. The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology defines an ICT Professional as a person with proven relevant skills who is registered by the Commission to perform specialized professional activities related to computer and communication systems, hardware, software, ICT management, data communication and management, signal processing, security, electronics, analytics, Internet, ICT Infrastructure and e-services".
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Education statistics in Tanzania show that since year 2016 universities have produced 5,633 graduates in ICT related programmes (source: TCU,2020); technical institutions have produced 9,149 graduates (source: NACTE, 2020) and vocational training centers (VET) have produced 1,440 graduates (source: VETA, 2020) who enter the job market and require professional recognition. There is also another group joining the ICT profession through certification and practice who need recognition as well. All these will be registered and recognized in various categories of the ICT profession. The community of ICT profession in Tanzania is therefore urged to visit https://iprs.ictc.go.tz to apply for registration. Registration journey begun in November 2015 when the ICT Commission was established by presidential decree with a mandate to register, regulate and promote the ICT profession in
Tanzania. This formal recognition of the profession is a fulfilment of the National ICT Policy objective on ICT human capital development. In the speech he delivered during the inauguration of Parliament in Dodoma in November 2020, His Excellency Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania assured the community of ICT profession that in next five years the Government will recognize and register ICT Professionals as a measure for the country to benefit with the 4th industrial revolution (4IR). This is a high level Government intervention and commitment to prepare the country to benefit with 4IR potentials and specifically digital economy that require professional competence in such new skills as artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, and many others.
TEHAMA January - March 2021