The Zambian government has approved a plan to distribute computers to over 300 schools across the country next year.

Minister of General Education Dr John Phiri said the move is aimed at providing pupils with access to computers to alleviate a shortage of required infrastructure to complete mandatory ICT examinations and improve technology literacy levels.

The plan comes in the wake of mounting criticism against authorities because of the failure to successfully conduct the first-ever ICT examinations for grade 9 pupils in November this month.

Phiri said the government will now allocate each school a minimum of 20 computers, depending on the location of each institution.

The minister said although a lack of funds prohibited the government from being able to provide each pupil with a computer, the Ministry of General Education would issue instructions - via provincial education officers – advising on the recommended number of pupils per computer.

He added that this will help to avoid a situation where pupils were forced to write their examinations in the middle of the night due to a critical shortage of available computers.

Phiri added that the ministry of General Education is waiting on approval of the 2016 national budget by parliament before it can begin with distribution.

The minister confirmed that the government had also approved a plan to provide teachers with computer training. "The government is putting in place effective intervention to ensure the availability of adequate computers in schools while 15 instructors will conduct training for ICT teachers in schools."

The Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZANUT) said it is happy that the government has been forced to come to its senses following the failed ICT examinations.

ZANUT public relations manager Joe Kasaka said the union has been vindicated when it warned government that the ICT examinations were not going to work because many schools lacked key resources including electricity and internet.

"Government rushed the implementation of ICT programme before putting infrastructure in place. It was supposed to have initially distributed computers to schools together with solar panels as many schools do not have electricity, especially in rural areas," Kasaka said.