Ageing, computer illiterate officers slowing development progress: Planner

AGEING and computer illiterate officers who are not able to adjust to changing trends and methods are one of the reasons for slow progress of development in districts and provinces, a planner says.
West Sepik’s Aitape-Lumi district planner Carlos Baraka told The National that in most of the districts, provincial administrators could not use a computer to present a district and provincial plan and reports.
“In terms of efficiency and effectiveness of the work, they cannot write a report, present a powerpoint presentation and for those of us who are working under them, it is very difficult to move forward,” he said.
Baraka said this lack of capacity at the top management was impacting service delivery and administration in provinces.
“Most of the district administrators, provincial administrators and directors in their division are not computer literate,” he said.
“They can use a computer but they cannot perform.
“How can the reports reach the national level?”
He said this sometimes delayed funding or funding was not given at all because of a lack of reports and plans.
He said computer training needed to be run as part of public servants capacity building and human resource improvement.