Dilemmas surrounding information technology education in developing countries: A study in Fiji

The objective of this study was to ascertain some of the issues affecting uptake of IT in Fiji through an examination of the secondary and tertiary education programs. The study recognises the importance of the cultural issues which intersect with IT uptake, as well as issues of infrastructure, access, and cost. A qualitative methodology was used to draw on the experience of a range of staff and students who were interviewed. Information on IT uptake and the education system as experienced by its participants is not easily obtainable in Fiji. Hence this study looks to assist in filling this gap. It allows the voices of the participants to emerge and through them a story of the issues of IT education emerges. Because of infrastructure and cost problems for IT in Fiji, considerable weight falls on the education system in the adoption of IT. At this stage the education system struggles both in terms of resources, curriculum, and ethnic divides in providing adequate levels of provision. This affects the ability of communities to evaluate, adopt, adapt, or resist information technologies to their advantage. It is concluded that there is significant potential for Fiji to become an IT literate society that is not being developed. Cultural issues do affect this process, but in the end changes to curriculum and teaching processes could make very real differences, if adapted to the current needs and conditions of the country.