The Business of Schools

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The Business of Schools

• Mark East
• Senior Director of Education
• Europe, Middle East Africa
• Microsoft Corporation

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The African Pathfinder

• The Business of Schools Blueprint for Africa
• Partnership with Namibian Government
• 13 pilot schools, Teacher Training (labs,
  curriculum's, activities), Community Technology
  Centres, PC Refurbishment centre.
• Celebrated June 2005

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Pathfinder Completion June 2005
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ICT Strategy Blueprint 9 Critical Components
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2. Policy
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Policy The Route Map
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3. Research
Over the past decade, many countries have spent
significant time, energy, and resources to design
e-strategies which often remained blue prints, or
white elephants because no systematic set of
indicators had been agreed upon and established
to monitor and evaluate their implementation.
The World Bank E-Strategies Monitoring And
Evaluation Toolkit, January 2005
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School Technology Innovation Centres
For best practice and innovation in the effective
use of ICT in Teaching and Learning. African
Centre South Africa
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4. Access

• Back to main diagram

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Access PC Refurbishment Centre

• In Vocational Training Centre
• Led to first vocational PC technician course for
  the country
• Young students - 90 never touched a PC, 30
  female
• Owned by government, run by local organisations
• Supplying schools, Ministry, Community Centres
  through local partners

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Digital Pipeline
Developed by Microsoft
Refurbished PCs from Europe for African Schools
and Communities

• First pipeline between UK and Namibia completed.
• Phase two starting scaling up to include
  Europe and Africa
• Links to Partners in Learning
• Refurbishment centre now operational including
  training for young people

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5. Innovative Solutions
Not only has Microsoft enabled us to utilise our
first computer laboratory through this program
but through Microsoft software we are also able
to give our students the same experience as
students in Western Europe. Mr. Damaseb,
headmaster at Eden Primary School, Namibia,
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Scaleable/Sustainable Solutions

• 31 seat PC labs deployed by Namibian Government,
• New server, wireless network, printer, 31
  refurbished PCs, Office XP, Windows Server,
  Encarta Encyclopaedia, configuration,
  installation, 1 year support US16K

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6. Curriculum
Partners in Learning has had a dramatic effect
on the curriculum. Teachers are incredibly
enthusiastic about the role of IT in the
classroom and pupils are much more motivated to
learn. Professor Abdur Rauf, Director of
Education, Federally Administered Tribal Area,
Pakistan
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Jordan Education Initiative
This curriculum provides 520 lesson plans,
localised in Arabic and containing multimedia
elements in every lesson for teaching IT skills
in grades 1 to 10 in schools throughout the
region
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7. Training
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Blueprint for teacher training
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8. Communities and Partners
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Innovative Teachers Network
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9. Support
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Education Support Centres
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1. Leadership
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Leadership
A ministry of education cannot take on the task
of equipping schools alone. It is simply too big
a job. Governments will need to form strategic
partnerships if they are to succeed.Ten Lessons
for ICT and Education in the Developing World,
Robert J. Hawkins, World Links for Development
Program, The World Bank Institute
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ICT Trust of Kenya
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A well-educated and skilled society leads to
improved development through healthcare,
nutrition and economic performance. By working
together, the Namibian Parliament and Microsoft
have begun an important process of equipping
todays students, who are tomorrows leaders,
with the resources and skills that will pave the
way for a more prosperous future. I believe I
speak for every Member of Parliament in saying I
am very proud of the success of the African
Pathfinder initiative and confident in the
potential it has to empower the people of
Namibia. Theo-Ben Gurirab, Speaker of the
Parliament of Namibia and former prime minister.