The Business of Schools Mark East Senior Director of Education Europe, Middle East & Africa Microsoft Corporation

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

Pathfinder Completion June 2005

ICT Strategy Blueprint – 9 Critical Components

2. Policy

Policy – The Route Map

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

School Technology Innovation Centres For best practice and innovation in the effective use of ICT in Teaching and Learning. African Centre: South Africa

4. Access Back to main diagram

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

Digital Pipeline First pipeline between UK and Namibia completed. 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

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,

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 – US$16K

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

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

7. Training

Blueprint for teacher training

8. Communities and Partners

Innovative Teachers Network

9. Support

Education Support Centres National ESC’s connect to Global ESC that connects back to Microsoft technical teams Problem Solved University ICT Students provide high level technical advice to fix the problem Call the Education Support Centre A problem is found that can not be solved locally

1. Leadership

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

ICT Trust of Kenya

“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 today’s students, who are tomorrow’s 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.