Technology and Education for Christ—-these words define the TEC in “SIM-TEC” and describe a vision to empower the church to establish Christian colleges and vocational schools across Africa and beyond. The TEC model is not distance learning or computer-assisted instruction. Rather, computers and other technology are provided in order to empower classroom teachers.

In most schools, each student has a computer for the class period and for a scheduled time after class to complete the assignments. Whereas libraries are costly and space-consuming, computers can provide entire libraries on CDs and hard drives. If would-be students are not computer literate, SIM-TEC offers pre-enrollment computer training for them.

Scholars around the world are donating their time and expertise to develop courses. Some call it their “intellectual tithe.” Individuals and companies donate computers, volunteers repair them, and shipping containers carry them to Africa. The typical “college” in the program is small and local. These factors keep the education affordable; and should rebel activity destroy one campus, it can relocate and rebuild quite easily.

Anthony Petrillo, founder and director of SIM-TEC, writes: “We do not start colleges ourselves. The western model has failed, and investing millions of dollars into a non-African approach will not provide the quality education that Africa needs.”

Visit the SIM-TEC website