The Rwandan government, Cisco Systems, Microsoft and the Nepad e-Africa Commission have implemented the Nepad e-Schools Demonstration project in six Rwandan schools.
The demonstration phase in the Nepad e-Schools initiative is a 12-month trial period, with chosen schools receiving end-to-end ICT solutions. The schools are connected to the Nepad e-Schools network and the Internet, says Dr Henry Chasia, deputy executive chairman of the Nepad e-Africa Commission.
Rwanda is so far the only country that has finished implementing the demonstration phase, he notes.
The consortium has provided the schools with a wireless satellite Internet link, e-learning software, and the option to network information between the schools through video conferencing technology.
Chasia says the e-Africa Commission is working with Ernst and Young to develop a sound business plan that will help countries move from the demonstration phase to the roll-out phase in a successful manner. The business proposal will be completed by the end of the year, he adds.
The consortium has more than 2 000 schools to cover in Rwanda after the demonstration period, says Chasia. "We feel confident about the roll-out in Rwanda, because it is a very small and accessible country."
Challenges
There is a challenge with electricity in the country, says Chasia, who notes the majority of schools have no power, which is putting pressure on the process. He says where there is power, huge fluctuations put strain on the technology.
"The power situation has been an overall project problem, existing in most countries destined for the e-school initiative," he adds.
Another problem has been providing teachers with skills to run the ICT, he says. The Nepad task team responsible for developing and training teachers for the programme is making headway, says Chasia, who notes over 100 training certificates for Rwandan teachers have been issued.
The commission has so far covered Lesotho, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Gabon, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal and SA are still to be covered.
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