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14 April 2008

The New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) e-Schools Initiative was adopted as a high priority by Nepad Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee in March 2003.

The overall aim of the initiative is to harness information and communication technology (ICT) for the improvement of the quality of teaching and learning in African primary and secondary schools, whereby young Africans graduate from these schools with ICT skills that will enable them to participate as equals in the global information society and knowledge economy.

The Nepad e-Africa Commission is spearheading the implementation of the Nepad e-Schools Initiative, which has the following components running in parallel: the Nepad e-Schools Demonstration Project; the Nepad e-Schools Satellite Network; the establishment of the National Implementing Agencies; the development of teacher training, content and curriculum development and the Nepad e-Schools business plan. These activities will converge towards large-scale rollout. Implementation of this initiative will be carried out at national level with co-ordination taking place at the continental level.

The Commission has been planning and implementing the various components of the Nepad e-Schools over the past four years. Significant progress has been made in the implementation of the Demo Project. Equipment has been installed, teachers have been trained and pupils have been exposed to the wonders of new technology in more than 80 community schools in Africa.

For several thousand individuals in these communities, a seed has been planted in them whose effects are irreversible. We plan to carry out the last school launches in the Demo Project before end of 2008.

The Business Plan provides the link between the Demo and the rollout. The main objective of the Business Plan is to develop a planning framework that will outline the input, process and resource mobilisation for the massive rollout of the Nepad e-Schools Initiative.

The consulting firm Ernst and Young was contracted to develop a draft business plan in consultation with experts appointed by governments of the participating countries, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the African Development Bank, the lead consortia companies and civil society organisations.

Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
14 April 2008
Source: SAPA