A teachers union has warned the Zambian government against rushing the implementation of compulsory ICT examination in schools across the country.

The minister of Education Michael Kaingu said the government plans to introduce the scheme as early as next year.

But the Secondary School Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) has warned that the move would be disastrous because the Southern African country was not ready.

Emmanuel Zulu, SESTUZ general secretary, said Zambia has not yet implemented the required infrastructure, with most schools lacking ICT equipment including laptops, computers and tablets.

The Union added that teachers have also not yet been trained for the programme.

As in many other countries in Africa, Zulu said most schools in Zambia's rural areas are not connected to the national grid and therefore pupils will not benefit from the ICT programme.

He said computers require electricity to be powered hence places without electricity will have difficulties implementing the ICT programme. "The idea of introducing ICT in schools is good but the decision to make it compulsory was made in haste. We call on the government to first put in place all the equipment that will ensure that the programme was a success and ensure that pupils benefit from it."

Over the past three years, the Zambian government, through the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA), has supplied computers and printers to schools in the country with a view of introducing ICT education.

ZICTA has also connected schools to the Net.

In 2012, ZICTA said it would spend up to US$10 million from the Universal Service Fund for the installation of communication towers around the country that will be used to connect schools to the internet.

The money was collected from service providers operating in Zambia including Airtel, MTN and Zamtel.

A survey conducted by UNICEF two years ago found that digital literacy in Zambia, especially among the youth, was very low. The organisation has urged authorities to intervene with measures to address the issue.