Harnessing the Potential of Information Technologies in Education: Finding Innovation and Adaptability in Mali and Ghana.

This study is based on the premises that information technologies (IT) are essential to African development and that education systems are responsible for developing a countries' human capacity to maximize those technologies. The study examines the ability of education systems in Mali and Ghana to develop the capacity to harness the potential of information technologies for African-empowered development. The condition of education and telecommunications in each country is examined in light of five conditions that indicate the existing and potential resources and intent of the systems: awareness, access, applicability, African adaptability, and importance of advocates. Evidence of these indicators is synthesized and analyzed to draw conclusions about why Malian and Ghanaian education systems can or cannot build the stipulated capacity under current conditions. A model is then recommended for how to proceed, based on the information and analysis. Areas for future research are suggested. Includes 26 notes. Contains an information sheet on acronyms, abbreviations, and definitions. (Contains a figure, 8 tables, and a 111-item bibliography.) (Author/BT) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. 1 Stanford University School of Education International Education Administration and Policy Analysis Harnessing the Potential of Information Technologies in Education: Finding Innovation and Adaptability in Mali and Ghana PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY