Information and Communication Technology in Schools: Its Contribution to Equitable Speech-Language Therapy Services in an Underserved Small Island Developing State

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 644-660
Author(s):  
Mariyam Z. Zahir ◽  
Anna Miles ◽  
Linda Hand ◽  
Elizabeth C. Ward
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Small Island ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Broadband Internet ◽  
Mobile Broadband ◽  
Communication Difficulties ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Therapy Services

Purpose Access to speech-language therapy services for children with communication difficulties is limited in vulnerable countries within the Majority world, such as Small Island Developing States. The use of information and communication technology (ICT) has been identified as a possible solution to provide equitable access to services in Minority world countries. This study explored ICT-related conditions in remote schools of the Maldives, a Small Island Developing State, in order to identify potential service delivery approaches. Method A mixed methods approach was used, involving (a) an online survey of 107 teachers, (b) observational data from four schools, (c) interviews with 31 teachers and the four principals of participating schools, and (d) 13 relevant online documents. Content analysis was used to analyze and integrate data from all sources. Results Teachers' access to ICT devices and fixed broadband Internet varied across schools. The government had limited funds to provide adequate fixed broadband Internet for them. However, favorable prospects were also discovered, including high access to 4G mobile broadband Internet in islands, high levels of confidence among teachers to use ICT, a variety of ICT uses currently employed by teachers, and the presence of financial aid for students with special education needs. Conclusions The findings of the study support the potential for using mobile broadband Internet, available ICT devices, and teachers as agents of service delivery in remote schools to enhance speech-language therapy service delivery in the Maldives. The creation of relevant digital educational content for teachers could further support children with communication difficulties in the country. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14143910

scholarly journals Sustainable Delivery of Speech-Language Therapy Services in Small Island Developing States Using Information and Communication Technology – A Study of the Maldives

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-42
Author(s):  
Mariyam Z. Zahir ◽  
Anna Miles ◽  
Linda Hand ◽  
Elizabeth C. Ward
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Small Island ◽  
Small Island Developing States ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Broadband Internet ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Government ◽  
Face Complex

Small Island Developing States (SIDS), a subgroup of Majority world countries, face complex challenges providing equitable access to speech-language therapy (SLT) services. Increasing use of information and communication technology (ICT) to enhance SLT services is seen in the Minority world. This study explored the potential of using ICT to provide sustainable SLT services in one SIDS, the Maldives. A mixed method approach was used integrating data from (a) 21 online documents, (b) interview with an ICT official, and (c) surveys of 13 island councillors and 73 parents of children with communication difficulties. Almost 100% of the population had access to mobile phones and mobile broadband internet. Most parents were active and frequent ICT users. The government provided financial aid for people with disabilities which could be utilised to access ICT for services. Asynchronous service delivery using accessible ICT and parents as agents of service delivery can potentially enhance SLT services.

The effect of information and communication technology on economic output

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-242
Author(s):  
Keshmeer Makun ◽  
Swastika Devi
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Output Growth ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Small Island ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Output ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Fiji Islands ◽  
Information And Communication

Purpose Information and communication technology (ICT) appears to play an indispensable task in influencing and directing the growth process of several developing countries. The spread of ICT in the South Pacific region including Fiji has facilitated faster and smother business in different sectors of the economy such as banking, education, transport and tourism. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to empirical literature and explore the effect of ICT on economic output, both in the short run and long run in the Fiji Islands. Design/methodology/approach The economic analysis was conducted using data from 1990 to 2016, improved framework of Solow (1956) and the autoregressive distributed-lag bounds approach to cointegration. Findings from the study and economic standpoint, the ICT is indeed important. The analysis shows an indication of long-run cointegration relationship among the variables for the two indicators of ICT. From the analysis, it is also observed that the two ICT indicators have a statistically significant and positive effect on output with coefficient ranging from 0.04 to 0.06. Research limitations/implications These results extend the ICT literature by providing support for it in case of a small developing island economy. The study highlights that while the two proxies of ICT are important for long term output growth, besides broad money and capital stock, the principal technology contributor is a mobile cellular subscription in Fiji Islands. Practical implications The policymakers need to work diligently to not only enhance ICT related infrastructure but also focus on better services and communication in different sectors of the economy. The efficient use of present technologies such as 3-G and 4-G is crucial and must be connected and made available to other smaller islands of Fiji. Originality/value The recent study has focused on the contribution of ICT on small island developing country, relative to large developing or developed countries. Furthermore, the author examined the contribution of two indicators of ICT using Solow (1956) augmented framework.

scholarly journals Factor affecting the adoption of information and communication technology in the tourism sector of the Maldives

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Vizaad Ali
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Small Island ◽  
Small Island Developing States ◽  
Institutional Forces ◽  
Information And Communication

<p>For many Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like the Maldives, tourism is a significant area of business. The increasing reliance on information and communication technology (ICT) in the tourism industry has become one of the major challenges facing developing countries, especially the SIDS. The success of the tourism industry in SIDS is closely associated with the use of ICT applications and e-business techniques.  This research studied the extent of utilisation of e-business and the issues that arise in its adoption and use in the organizations that make up the tourism industry of the Maldives. A theoretical framework was developed to identify the issues pertaining to use of ICT and e-business. The research was qualitative in nature and used a combination of grounded theory and multi-grounded theory approaches for data analysis in order to develop a new theoretical framework. This inductive process resulted in three emergent themes: representing three domains Country, Sector, and Information Systems (IS). ICT or e-business adoption and integration in the tourism organizations is affected by Sector, which is by and large influenced by the Country, which in turn impacts on the IS domain. These three complementary themes formed a new theoretical framework, generating a set of factors and institutional forces affecting the adoption and integration of ICT or e-business in the tourism organisations of the Maldives. This study contributes to our understanding of e-business in developing countries, in particular to small island developing states with islandness, like the Maldives.</p>

scholarly journals INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) AND SERVICE DELIVERY IN NIGERIAN PUBLIC SECTOR: A STUDY OF FEDERAL INLAND REVENUE SERVICE (2000-2019)

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Edem Edemekong Edemidiong ◽  
Ebong, Itoro Bassey ◽  
Osezua Ozinegbe
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Tax Evasion ◽  
Tax Compliance ◽  
Business World ◽  
Revenue Generation ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Inland Revenue ◽  
The Impact

This paper examined the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on the level of services delivered by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The paper was premised on the perceived importance and role of the online platform in the prompt payment of corporate tax as its efficiency in increasing compliance while decreasing the level of tax evasion by corporate bodies. A related challenge that is increasingly being faced by users of electronic facilities for government transaction is a lack of universal security mechanism that forms a first line of defense for such users. The objective of the paper was to examine the impact of ICT on the level of revenue generation efforts of the FIRS and the level of tax evasion in Nigeria. Technology acceptance model was used as theoretical framework of analysis. The paper adopted survey and descriptive research design to elicit responses from the study sample. Both primary and secondary sources of data were used in eliciting information needed for the study. Pearson pear product and chi-square method were used as statistical method of analysis. The major findings of the study revealed among others that application of ICT will only amount to negligible level of revenue generation. It was also revealed that the relationship between application of ICT and the level of tax compliance and acceptability is not significant. Based on the findings, the paper recommended among others, that the government and their agencies should embark on an all-important campaign for attitude and behavioral change with regards to encouraging people in the business world to perceive tax as an obligation to the state and not just a yearly ritual that must be embarked upon by them. KEYWORDS: Federal Inland Revenue, Information Communication Technology, Taxation and Service Delivery

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