Digital Education in a SIDS the Mauritian experience Ricaud AUCKBUR Director (E-Education) Ministry of Education , Mauritius Wednesday 25 Feb 2015 – UNESCO Paris

Mauritius at a glance Independence from UK : 1968 Region : Africa Sub Region : Mascarene Indian Ocean Country Size : 60km x 40 km Population : 1.3M, multi-ethnic Diversified Economy : Tourism, Services sector, Sugar, Textile ,ICT, Seafood Narrow natural resource base GDP per capita : US$ 9200 Mo Ibrahim Governance Index : 1st in Africa Gender parity in Education (in fact girls do better than boys …)

Government visioning Transforming the country into a knowledge-focussed nation … …meaning : developing our only natural resource : our people investing in an HR profile adapted to 21st century needs fighting digital isolation, including digital gender-divide bringing digital education to all students including the marginalised and students with Special Educational Needs

A digital learning experience for all Providing digital education to the marginalised, including girls from vulnerable groups Students as a new learners through ICT Expanding educational environments through ICT ICT as an enabler in teaching and learning Supporting professional development for teachers and school staff Improving school administration processes Supporting effective educational information management.

Mobile Learning Initiatives M-learning Tablet PC Project Since 2013 Public national procurement through open tendering 26100 Android tablets provided to mid-secondary students and educators Training of Educators Training of School Inspectors Provision of Pedagogical resources Provision of internet connectivity Implementation of an sms e-attendance system

Objectives of the Mauritius Tablet PC Project Provision of students of Forms IV and V access to digital educational contents relevant to their curricula. Ensuring a culture of information mobility through high speed fibre optic cables to every secondary school Enhancing teacher-student and student-student interactions . Promoting Science education for girls . An effort to promote science education among girls, who traditionally prefer Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences Improving learning for girls by providing them with anytime, anywhere opportunities to become independent learners through technology. Providing easier access to information and e-services Increasing transition rate to higher education and further training, including encouraging access for girls to higher education Preparing students and educators for mobile digital literacy and 21st century skills Bringing digital education to the socially deprived and marginalised (girls with SEN, girls in schools from priority action zones)

Project details Digital pedagogical content in Tablet, relevant to mid secondary Mauritian curricula Tablets equipped with Classroom Management Software to enhance the teacher-learner interaction. Tablet usage guideline Parental control software Insurance cover Tablet provided freely to needy students, including girls from disadvantaged backgrounds Tablets covered by 2-year warranty Tablets covered by insurance cover

Why a guideline ? Guidelines prepared to sensitize new users of mobile technology on: Educational Objectives Responsibilities of head of school Responsibilities of educator Responsibilities of parents Responsibilities of the student Guidelines on Proper Usage Insurance Cover Disclaimer Technical Warranty

Managing of m-education Setting up of a dedicated E-Education directorate at Ministry Creation of an inter-ministerial national committee for better national coordination ( comprising Ministries of Education, ICT, Finance, Gender) Subsidized internet connectivity Designation of one a public agency responsible for training Identification of one educator for training and training replication on tablet usage, use of Classroom Management System and use of OERs on the internet Training for School management Training of school inspectors Appointment of ICT Support officers in schools

Measures for the marginalised, including girls Collaboration between Min of Edu and Min of gender equality Online career-guidancing system to favour access Free ICT in community-centres and post offices to favour access to marginalised Subsidised IC3 training – IC3 compulsory at early secondary level Remove discrimination : Free tablets to needy students at mid-secondary Contextualised resources - Delivery of training in local languages favouring the marginalised Provide a space for women and ICT : Implementation of pro-girls ICT events e.g. Digigirlz

End quote 1 – on SIDS “SIDS can envisage rapid technological innovation, especially in information and communications technologies, that will help to overcome island isolation, create new ways of maintaining social and cultural ties across the island diaspora and help evolve new economic activities.” UNEP 2014 - GEO Small Island Developing States Outlook.

End quote 2- on ICT for women’s development Information and Communication technology by itself cannot by itself answer all issues concerning women’s development, but it does bring new information resources and open new communication channels for marginalised communities (V.Nath, LSE)

THANK YOU ! www.tabletpc.intnet.mu Ricaud AUCKBUR Director E-Education Mauritius rauckbur@govmu.org