Connect a School, Connect a Community : Experiences from Zimbabwe

ITU Workshop on:“Human Capital Development and Digital Economy in Sub-Saharan Africa : Issues,

Challenges and Prospects”16-18 June 2014 | Niamey, Niger

Hasha Seine Maringe(Co-founder CEO/President)

Information and Communication Technology Association of Zimbabwe

© ITU Workshop ,Niamey, Niger 16-18 June 2014

ITU Workshop , Niamey, Niger 16-18 June 2014

Topic

Connect a School, Connect a community : Experience from Zimbabwe

By ICT Association of Zimbabwe

(ICTAZ)


About ICT Association of Zimbabwe

ICT Association of Zimbabwe is a registered 21st Century focused non-profit organization committed to promote Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as tools and catalyst of sustainable development.

ICTAZ Mission is to:

•Empower Zimbabwean citizens and organizations with ICT as a key tool for sustainable development and analyze feasible ICT pathways to sustainability in the 21st Century through partnerships, training, research and development, capacity building and awareness raising with focus on green ICT best practices.


ICTAZ priority areas of commission & collaboration

Working in Collaboration with the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services in Zimbabwe; the work of ICTAZ is facilitated through commissions that focus on six priority areas of ICT application under the theme : Promoting ICTs as tools and catalysts for sustainable development, which are: Education, Agriculture, Health, Community, Industry and Environment


Connect a School, Connect a Community Initiative

Connect a School, Connect a Community is a public-private partnership launched by ITU to promote broadband Internet connectivity for schools in developing countries around the world.Why focus on schools? Because connected schools can serve as community ICT centres for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, including women and girls.


From the United Nations Secretary General’s Desk“We know what a difference it can make. Connected schools can become connected community ICT centers. They can provide a vital link to marginalized and vulnerable groups. They can become an information lifeline for women, indigenous people, persons with disabilities and those living in rural, remote and underserved areas. Turning this goal into reality will take teamwork. We must strengthen our own networks.”

(United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Telecom Youth Forum in Geneva: October 2009)


Main Issues National Policies and LegislationAffordable technologies for broadband access in rural and remote areas.

Access to low cost end user devices i.e. desktops and laptops

Basic training costs for training of trainers

Providing assistive technologies and an accessible environment to people with disabilities.

Developing and accessing content for the ICT Centres.

Providing a safe online and physical environment for children.

Availability of reliable and sustainable power sources

Security of equipment and infrastructure at the ICT centres.


Key Enablers for the Initiative in Zimbabwe

Presidential Computerisation Program

Expansion of the Rural Electrification Program

Ministry of Education National e-Learning Program

ICTAZ Partnership with low cost devices suppliers

Overwhelming Government SupportITU support and follow-up workshopsExpansion of Private Public Partnerships (PPP)

Rapid expansion of broadband services and service providers


Connect a School, Connect a Community as a tool for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

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ESD


Objectives Buy the political will of the education and

ICT policy makers and regulators in the development of policies and strategies to connect schools as community ICT centres.

Create space in school computer labs for ICT innovation.

Develop National standards and Best Practices on Connect a School, Connect a Community.

Connect all schools by 2020

Objectives Raise awareness on the use of ICTs as

tools and catalysts for sustainable development in schools and communities.

Capacitate school leaders to become torch bearers and key agents of change in their communities in terms of connecting schools to the internet and the community.

Enhancing a sense of community ownership of school ICT labs by making the labs become community ICT centres.

Steps adopted to implement the Connect a School,Connect a Community Initiative in Zimbabwe by ICTAZ

Sensitization &

Awareness Raising

Capacity Building

for School Leaders

National Strategy & Policy

Formulation to

implement the

project nationally

.

Connecting all

primary, secondary and post-secondary schools to ICTs by 2020 and turn them

to Community ICT Centres

Model Schools as Pilot Projects

Developing

Standards and Best Practices

to connect

all schools.

Phase 1 Phase 2


Step 1: Sensitisation and Awareness Workshops Area of Focus : Seven (7) Districts in Manicaland ProvinceTarget Groups : ICT Teachers and School HeadsNo. of Beneficiaries : +870 School Heads & 122 ICT TeachersPeriod : March 2012 – March 2013Facilitators : Mutare Teacher’s College, Telone, UNESCO, Ministry of ICT, e-Learning Solutions, Bytron Technologies, Ministry of Science & Technology Development , Ministry of EducationOrganisers & Sponsors : ICT Association of Zimbabwe (ICTAZ)


Step 2: ICT Leadership Training for School Heads

Period of Training: April 2013Duration of Training : 25 hrs. (5 Days)No. of Beneficiaries : 25 Selected School Heads Facilitators : Mutare Teacher’s College and ICTAZFunding : Registration fees from participants


Step 3: Setting up model schools as pilot projects

Name of School : Nhedziwa High SchoolLocation : Chimanimani Rural, ManicalandTotal Enrolment: +1100 StudentsMajor ICT Infrastructure : 30 desktops computers, Satellite Internet Connection , 3 LCD projectors, 12 laptops, 2 computer labs and electricity.Approximate number of future beneficiaries: Over 2000 people from the communities around across all targeted groups.


The Pioneers: Success story from Nhedziwa High.

81 delegates were trained and graduated at Nhedziwa High School Connect a School, Connect a Community Pioneers training program.

Trainees were drawn from all disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of the community as well as sectors.

The duration of the training program was 25hrs (5 days) and was adopted from the ITU Training Materials, Applications and Tools on Connect a School, Connect a Community.


Training Program Outline The training program covered the following areas:i. Basic ICT Literacy - Using a

computer , Basic Software and Applications and Accessing the Internet.

ii.Basic Introduction to e-Applications – trainees were introduced to e-applications i.e. e-banking, e-agriculture, e-environment, e-health, e-commerce, e-government and e-learning. With this module, customised training was adopted with emphasis on self-learning approach as it helps people to understand how they can use e-applications in their own lives. Model applications were installed on the computers e.g. e-Hurudza (e-Farmer).


Challenges of implementing the initiative in Zimbabwe

i. Absence of specific and dedicated policies and legislation on Connect a School, Connect a Community

ii.Lack of funding for training of trainers, developing and accessing content for the Community ICT centres.

iii.Prohibitive costs of technologies for broad band access in rural and remote areas i.e. satellite internet connections.

iv.Use of alternative cheap, reliable and sustainable sources of power such as solar or wind.

v. Accessing assistive technologies for people with disabilities

vi.Access to affordable end user devices for the ICT centres.


Recommendationsi. ITU through its stakeholders should

organise workshops for policy makers and regulators to advice on best practices and policies as guided by ITU toolkit.

ii.ITU, Government and Regulators should collectively source funding for training of trainers, developing and accessing content for the Community ICT centres.

iii.Regulators and Government must ensure that the costs of technologies for broad band access in rural and remote areas is affordable and sustainable for schools e.g. adopt the google balloon project.


Recommendations (continued…)iv.The role of Private-Public Partnerships

should be promoted in tackling the use of alternative cheap, reliable and sustainable sources of power such as solar or wind.

v. International NGOs dealing with people with disabilities must be engaged in accessing assistive technologies for such people for the Community ICT centres.

vi.Equipment manufacturing companies must be requested to manufacture low cost and power consuming end user devices for the ICT centres such as laptops and desktops.


The Story in Pictures!!!


For more information contact:

ICTAZ Com m ission for ICT on Education ICTAZ Head Office M utare, M anicaland

Zim babwe Tel: 020-69060/0220 2020 264

Cell: 0773 163 875, 0715 366 850, 0739 411 589 Em ail: ictazhq@ gm ail.com

www.ictaz.org


The End.

Thank you! Merci!

Documents

Connect a School, Connect a Community : Experiences from Zimbabwe