| Period of Performance: | January 2, 2003 through July 31, 2005 |
Themes:
Gender equity, professional development, ICT
Project Goal:
To ensure that information communication technologies (ICTs) is systematic, sustainable and that a threshold of educational leadership in the use and application of technology is cultivated.
Overview:
The Initiative for Namibian Education Technology (iNET) follows on from USAID/Namibia’s previous ICT support to the Ministry of Basic Education, Sport and Culture (MBESC) in the establishment of physical, online and human resources within the Ministry as well as policy development in relation to ICT, education and training. These activities were implemented via the Global Communications and Learning Systems task order (LearnLink) and the Rössing Foundation.
The current iNET activity builds on previous activities and draws on the cross-sectoral benefits of ICT in the Namibian education sector. Gender sensitivity in professional development and improvement of women’s professional opportunities through dot-EDU are important priorities in this activity. dot-EDU support strengthens the skills of education officials in using computer technology for improved professional performance.
List of Partners:
- Education Development Center (EDC)
- Academy for Educational Development (AED)
- Ministry of Basic Education, Sport and Culture (MBESC)
EDC is the prime contractor for this Award, with the majority of the work contracted to AED. EDC and AED staff and dot-EDU partners will ensure above all that project activities, in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic Education, Sport and Culture will lead to the achievement of three (3) Program Results (PRs):
PR1 - Improved standards of professional development for MBESC officials (teachers, advisory teachers, principals, inspectors, regional and head office staff) achieved through expanded and sustained use of ICT. More specifically,
- The capacity and sustainability of TRC computer centers is enhanced with CD-ROM capability, print reference, training libraries and additional workstations. Private sector alliances allow for cost recovery and long-term sustainability and also promote job creation.
- The MBESC is assisted to expand the quality and scope of online professional development and distance learning materials
- LearnLink Project innovations are extended to Colleges of Education and pre-service teacher training are supported through ICT applications.
PR2 - Structures and support systems will be developed to facilitate ongoing policy discussions on effective uses of ICT for education.
- Educational policy dialogue is encouraged and supported in order to extend ICT services and applications throughout the education sector
- ICT working groups are supported to help coordinate Ministry ICT initiatives
- Support is given to the MBESC and USAID’s Mobile Task Team to develop innovative uses of ICT to help mitigate the impacts of HIV/AIDS on the education sector in Namibia
- A feasibility study is undertaken to determine the appropriateness of developing a technical high school as proposed by the National Institute for Educational Development.
PR3 - Improved MBESC policy and planning through decentralization of the Ministry’s Education and Management and Information System (EMIS) to all regional education offices as well as to all circuit offices within BES supported regions.
- Development of an ICT network will provide greater access to and efficient use of communication tools and educational data made available online and via the Ministry’s EMIS
- Networks and Internet access in Regional Education offices of the MBESC improves communication and supports decentralization.
For more information about this project, please contact:
- EDC William Wright, dot-EDU Program Director, wwright@edc.org
- EDC Nadya Karim-Shaw, Project Manager, nkarim-shaw@edc.org
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