The following article, seen in the SANTEC Information Update February 2005 No. 3, may be of interest. Instruction and software in African languages are mentioned towards the end.
Don Osborn Bisharat.net ---------------------------------------- NEPAD e-Schools demo now ready for launch in April By Professor Peter Kinyanjui: Programme Commissioner/Coordinator, Human Development - e-Africa Commission The second workshop of the Coordinating body of the NEPAD e-Schools initiative took place from 24-26 January, 2005, in Pretoria, South Africa with the main aim to move the NEPAD e-Schools Initiative to the next level, the demonstration phase. We are demonstrating in the 20 first phase countries what we mean by a NEPAD e-School, what kind of equipment, what kind of software, what kind of training, capacity building, that will be required to have all the attributes of a NEPAD e-School. In the first meeting, also held in South Africa from 13-15 May, 2004, we convened representatives of governments to form the continental coordinating body to oversee the process. At this second workshop the countries invited were those that have selected six schools each to participate in the demonstration project. The conference agreed on the implementation framework including how the e-Africa Commission would coordinate the activities at the continental level, and the responsibilities of the countries at the local level. How will the project be financed? The financing for the demo has already been secured from the Information Society Partnership for Africa's Development (ISPAD) partners, who have agreed to finance this process in full. They will also take responsibility for the training under the leadership and guidance of the e-Africa Commission. We do not want them to only concentrate on the technology side of things, but to also take into account the pedagogy side, in order to strike a balance between the two. Five of the ISPAD partners have constituted lead consortia for all 15 countries, each with six schools per country (90 schools in total) and will divide the number equally among themselves. The governments on their part will release the teachers to be trained. They were responsible for selecting the schools and will also provide access to the schools. Where will the training take place? The training will take place on location. The whole purpose of the demonstration is to accrue a body of knowledge that will serve to inform the roll-out of the broader NEPAD e-Schools Initiative. The demonstration project will take 12 months. Who will be responsible for maintenance of equipment? In the first 12 months all issues relating to security and maintenance of equipment will be the responsibility of the partners with the cooperation of the participating governments. What has been the commitment of governments involved? So far the governments have committed themselves to taking over the schools once the demonstration period is over. Then the big roll out of secondary schools will begin after this phase. A business plan is being prepared that will outline the financial implications and indicate what role each stakeholder should play, i.e. governments, private sector, civil society, and the community. What confidence do you have in this initiative? We have confidence in the success of this project because we have built in mechanisms of monitoring and evaluation, and we have brought on board an independent body, to evaluate every step of the demonstration project. This body is the Commonwealth of Learning which operates in 54 countries, which will carry out an independent assessment of strengths and weaknesses during this process. We will also ensure that training is done. Teachers will be trained before the equipment and technology is introduced, as well as technicians who will be responsible for maintenance and servicing of the equipment. Therefore all these built-in mechanisms, it is hoped, will result in sustainability of the project. How were schools selected? Schools were selected by governments, and these include urban and rural schools, with or without access to electricity, and for both female and male students. A typical African school presents many challenges and fortunately our partners are willing to take up these challenges. Will the communities have access to some of the ICT equipment? What we envisage is for a NEPAD e-School to become a community resource, and it is important to create ownership of the schools right from the start by involving members of these communities. NEPAD is about partnerships. The NEPAD e-Schools will be a partnership between governments, the private sector, civil society, the community and the e-Africa Commission. Each will have a role to play. I think that we shall succeed because partners will be brought in right from the start, who will be able to identify themselves with the initiative, and also take responsibility for the success of the project. Therefore, through the participation of all stakeholders, and through the participation of representatives appointed by governments to serve on the coordinating body, as well as country liaison persons who will be appointed by the governments to work on the project full time, this initiative will succeed. Have you considered the use of African languages? Language is a big factor, and we have therefore built in a mechanism that will not clash with the countries' national policies on languages taught in their schools. We are also ensuring that the preferred language of instruction will be used and local African languages will be encouraged. Do we have software programmes developed in African languages? There are numerous people and institutions that have developed programmes in African languages. They are in our universities, teacher training colleges, etc. However, we are just beginning to discover who they are and what they are involved in. I think that the NEPAD e-Schools will be a confluence, a convergence of this expertise, found across Africa. And of course we must not forget the African Diaspora, good, seasoned educators who can contribute to enriching this content, to make it basically African. That is the only way that Africans will be able to identify themselves closely with what they are familiar with rather than rely on borrowed curriculum developed elsewhere. Finally, when can we expect a NEPAD e-School demonstrator? The first demonstration school, if all goes according to the Pretoria workshop plan, will be launched in April 2005, in the regions of North Africa, Franco-phone West Africa, Anglo-phone West Africa, and Anglo-Phone East, Central, and Southern Africa. At least four schools will be ready in each region. *************************** ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> In low income neighborhoods, 84% do not own computers. At Network for Good, help bridge the Digital Divide! http://us.click.yahoo.com/S.QlOD/3MnJAA/Zx0JAA/TpIolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
