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ICTs in African Schools
A workshop for education practitioners and policy makers
Gaborone International Convention Centre,
Gaborone, Botswana,
28 April - 2 May 2003
www.schoolnetafrica.net/IAS2003
Seven action items arise from workshop
Gaborone, the capital of Botswana was the site of the first historical meeting of 200 education policy-makers, practitioners and development agencies. The policy-makers and practitioners were from 28 African countries. In total, there were participants from 35 countries internationally. Speakers representing these countries and agencies focused on various aspects of using information and communications technologies (ICTs) in the education system in Africa. Key topics covered in this workshop included the potential and challenges of ICTs in African education, integrating ICT use into the curriculum, content and capacity building, appropriate educational technologies in Africa, achieving affordability and sustainability and Pan-African initiatives for the future.
President Wade of Senegal, who leads the ICT program of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), sent by fax a resounding message of support and encouragement to the workshop delegates to promote education in Africa through ICTs. He highlighted the idea of "digital solidarity" in bridging the divide between the information-haves and information-have-nots in Africa. President Wade further called for the establishment of a global solidarity fund to support the digital solidarity process.
The workshop was opened by the Honourable Kgeledi Kgoroba, Minister of Education, Botswana who noted that this event was historical in that it brought together education policy makers, ICT in education practitioners and development agencies to focus on the issues that affect and guide the use of ICTs in education. He further noted that this workshop is important to identify future initiatives for implementation to enable the African learner to become part of the modern world.
Professor Peter Kinyanjui, the NEPAD Commissioner on e-Schools, reinforced this message. He outlined the thinking of NEPAD regarding the use of ICTs in education and identified Schoolnet Africa and the work being done as an important part of the e-schools initiative. He indicated that NEPAD's e-schools program has set the goal of every secondary school leaver to be ICT-literate by 2014.
In closing this workshop, the Honourable Lephimotse Sebetlala, Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Botswana noted that the time for emotional arguments to use ICTs in African schools was over. He stressed that for too long Africa used emotional reasons for investment and to develop education. He challenged the workshop participants, as they ended the meeting, to develop sound educational and economic arguments for the use of ICTs in the education system. He noted that only with sound and well-argued reasons (with facts and figures), good policies and implementation plans would governments commit funds and the donor agencies and private sector invest.
At the end of the five days, participants identified the following initiatives as important for follow-up by Schoolnet Africa and the partners involved in this workshop:
Policy on ICTs in education with baseline studies - video documentary of continent-wide promising practices, policy documents and statements, implementation plans and research, capacity building seminars for development and implementation of policies.
Building capacity in human resources - including building the pre and in-service teacher training system to use ICTs, reports on effective models for teacher training, development of distance learning teacher training courses, training on establishment and management of schoolnet organisations, schoolnet champions and technical training.
Information sharing via a clearing house - with Schoolnet Africa's Education Knowledge Warehouse being the 'clearing house' where ICTs in education policy documents, teacher training models and resources, specifications for refurbished computers, using ICTs for different subjects, subject based resources, research into issues like e-rates, using different technology platforms, open source software vs. propriety software, etc will be housed. Other documents and information will include annual reports on the current developments in ICTs in education on the continent.
Gender - that attention is given to mainstreaming gender issues in ICTs in education programs such as engendering ICTs in education policy and that specific projects to advance women and girls in education be considered.
Technology developments - for example the establishment of refurbishment centres as part of job-creation and support to the school system that uses refurbished computers. Also, global advocacy to lobby the private sector to donate refurbished computers at a greater quantity and reduced cost.
Advocacy - working with governments, institutions and agencies to clearly articulate the value of ICTs to the education system and to the countries economy and society.
Research - development of a baseline evaluation of prevalence of ICT in schools, evaluation of the impact of ICT on teaching and learning in the classroom, to include the development of open standards for educational software, identifying actual costs and benefits, how to assess and evaluate the use of ICTs, using ICTs to support learners with special needs, etc.
These follow-up projects will be shared by organisations represented at the conference and the conference proceedings and results will be shared broadly with governments including heads of state.
The workshop organisers wish to extend their thanks to all who participated and contributed to make this a historic and successful event.
A comprehensive report will be available on the workshop web site (by 2 June 2003).
ISSUED BY the Workshop Organising Committee:
Botswana Ministry of Education
Commonwealth of Learning
International Institute for Communication and Development
Schoolnet Africa
The World Bank Institute
Further information:
Vis Naidoo
OR:
Lawase Akpolou
Knowledge-Warehouse Assistant
SCHOOLNET AFRICA
PO Box 31866
Braamfontein, 2017
SOUTH AFRICA
PH: +27 11 3392300 | FAX: +27 11 3395912
WEB: www. schoolnetafrica.net | E-MAIL: l.akpolou@schoolnetafrica.net
ICTs in African Schools work shop web site: www.schoolnetafrica.net/IAS2003
Workshop presentation by Vis Naidoo
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