ICT(Information & Communication Technology)

in Education for Development

Brian GuttermanShahreen RahmanJorge SupelanoLaura ThiesMai Yang

Objectives of GAID

• Initiated by United Nations Secretary-General in 2006

• Multi-stakeholder approach to tackle the various challenges in bringing ICT to the developing world

• To achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

• Focus on ICT & it’s impact in education for development

• Comparative Country Case Studies: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Ghana, Malaysia,

Mali, Namibia, Rwanda, Sweden & Uruguay

• Challenges & Solutions

• Recommendations for various stakeholders

Objectives of White Paper

Role of ICT in Education (ICTE)

Survey Result by International Institute

for Communication & Development

(IICD)

• 80% feel empowered by ICT

• 60% feel ICT had a positive effect on teaching & learning

Role of ICTE

Increased Access

• Increased access for the disabled

• Reduce Gender Gap• Distance Learning• Dual Mode Universities• Virtual Classrooms• Digital Divide

Improved Quality of Education • Shift to more learner-centered methods• Improvement in Education leadership, management & governance

Providing Access to ICTE

Factors inhibiting access to education: • Gender• Ethnic background • Socioeconomic status• Geographical location

Providing Access to ICTE

Avenues providing access:

• Distance Learning• E-Learning• Community-based IT

facilities• Private Sector / NGO

Initiatives

Case Study:Uruguay

Plan CEIBAL: One Laptop Per Child

• First country to commit to large scale nationwide deployment • Fully implement by 2010

• Provide 340,000 students & 16,000 teachers with a laptop

• Target all public primary children from 1st – 6th grade

Teachers & ICT

Challenges to capacity building:

• Lack of adequately trained teachers

• Lack of administrative support• Loss of instructional time

Teachers & ICT

Integrating ICT in Education:

• Enables teachers to transform their practices• Improves the learning process• Develops a critical mass of knowledge workers

Difficulties in Transition to ICTE

Financial costs• Government-owned telecommunication companies• Corruption

Accessibility of technology• Infrastructure especially in rural areas

New technology• Localized & don’t follow trends

Language barrier• Teacher training to develop own materials

Difficulties in Transition to ICTE

What can we do?

• Strong, sustainable partnerships between government, private sector & civil society

• Goodwill, dedication & flexibility of all stake holders

Case Study:

Malaysia

Commitment of government towards ICTE:• Smart School Project• Electronic Book Project• Availability of electronic software in national

language

Commitment of non-government agencies: • Chinese Smart Schools• Private Smart Schools

Government Cooperation & Policy Implementation

Lack of:• Cooperation & coordination• Infrastructure & staff

Need to:• Government cooperation• Willingness to integrate ICTE• Evaluation of social context,

availability of ICT, needs & desires of the country

• Adaptation of national policy across sectors & ministries

Case Study:Namibia

• No advisory on implementation• Several different platforms• No connectivity & technical support• Inability of MoE to oversee whether projects &

organizations worked towards their educational goals

• 2004 – Education Steering Committees• Implement ICT policy• Create framework

Case Study:Namibia

Monitoring & Evaluation

Need:

• Identify indicators• Ensure impact• Ensure sustainability • Involve all stakeholders

Use of personal digital assistant (PDA) for M & E

Case Study:Rwanda

M & E showed:

• Information found: Students benefitted Families benefitted Laptops gained importance Students learned faster than teachers

• Information missing: Knowledge on usage Teaching methodologies at school

RecommendationsAccess :• Bandwidth & spectrum of radio & television

wavelengths• Digital libraries• Region collaboration

Teachers:• Increased focus on training• Public & private stakeholders

Cost: • Important to lobby for investment from

stakeholders• Increased advocacy for support from private ICT

companies, UN & World Bank, other development agencies

Recommendations

Government Policy & Implementation:• Establish partnerships between government,

private sector, civil society• Encourage national ICTE policies • Eliminate government corruption

Monitoring & Evaluation • Stakeholders involved must concentrate on M&E

Methodology/Results

Methodology/Results

Thank You.