A new, high-wire conjunction of learning and technology: Reem Leila logs on In the last few years, much has been made of the potential of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a tool for flexible and reliable learning, especially in terms of the management of information systems. From relatively simplistic educational support to more holistic models for "distributed learning", the systems are exported, mainly at the national level. A new model, Egypt's Education Initiative (EEI) promises to enhance education technology in Egypt using advanced ICT technologies launched with the World Economic Forum (WEF) official Memorandum of Understanding which took place in Sharm El-Sheikh last month. The initiative is fully supported by Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, and aims to apply a single model all over the country. Launched by Microsoft in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Education (MOE) and Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) one month ago, EEI will focus on enhancing teachers' skills by involving them in ongoing training and development, among other methods. It involves an Online Learning Service which will act as a virtual school. According to Khaled Abdel-Qader, academic programmes manager at Microsoft Egypt, "the initiative is perceived as key to improving the speed and quality of educational services the MOE provides to Egyptian students and citizens as well as an essential element for accelerating adoption and effective usage of technology across society." ICT teachers will be trained to deliver courses on ICT fundamentals in order to integrate it into the daily classroom routine as well as developing a vision of the power of ICT for teaching and training. To promote support communities for school leaders and stakeholders, endorsing the sharing of ideas and visions, a forum for addressing challenges and promoting the most effective practises, ICT skills are a prerequisite. For years, indeed, the Egyptian government has been committed to delivering technology to students, but as Abdel-Qader notes, "there should be a real impact on all the educational stakeholders and a strategy to address the needs of each one". One shortcoming the EEI aims to overcome is the lack of communication among students, teachers, administrators, district managers and parents. Another is developing interactive educational material that services the learning objects in order to make an impact. "This is what Microsoft will bring in on the table besides addressing all stakeholders through the experience that we gain across the world by implementing partners in the education initiative," Abdel-Qader explains, adding that one obstacle that can impede the initiative is "the roll-out on a national scale". Covering the entire country will require the full cooperation of the government, private sector, NGOs and finally society itself. "There should be a strong monitoring and evaluation system to ensure that all efforts are directed towards accomplishing the government's vision for reforming education." This is in addition to enough sustainability and scalability to guarantee a profound impact. Another low-budget initiative will be undertaken on the margin of the EEI. In Dar Al-Tarbia -- a childcare facility for homeless children -- Microsoft in partnership with the Sohbet Kheir NGO have set up an Information Technology (IT) lab. Ahmed Hassan, 13, joined because he believes that the future is in IT: "In Japan, an illiterate is that who does not know how to use a computer." Mustafa Ibrahim, 14, was even more interested: "When I grow up I want to be a software engineer, I have to start somewhere, and for me this is the beginning." More generally, efforts to improve the educational participation of homeless children cannot be separated from the EEI as Kate Isler, the regional director of Mid-market and Solutions Partners for central and east Europe told Al-Ahram Weekly : "The initiative is essential in many countries to lay the groundwork for the equitable and efficient distribution of resources aimed at neglected populations like those homeless children." The IT lab comprises 15 computers presented by Microsoft for the benefit of 300 Dar Al-Tarbia children as well as other students who live in the area. Launched three weeks ago, this is the first low-budget initiative to be sponsored by Microsoft. According to the project plan, children will be trained in the use of both hardware and software. Each successful child will be granted LE150. "Dar Al-Tarbia children are being trained for free, while outside students will be trained at 25 per cent of total the value of the course," Isler explained. Given that Egypt has some 36,332 public and private schools, in which the teachers number over 860,000 and 15 million students, EEI comes as a life-raft. Its first, three-year phase aims to reach out to the students of 2,000 preparatory schools across Egypt, training 75,000 teachers in the process. Subsequent phases are to include students of primary and secondary schools as well. According to Abdel-Qader, "Microsoft has an aggressive plan to provide the schools with broadband Internet connections and all the proper infrastructure needed." Based on public- private sector partnership, the initiative pools the efforts of MOE and MCIT together with those of IT community members and international donors. Aigul Temirova, Microsoft Finance Controller says that, in the past international donor agencies used to "own" the educational programmes, through financing them, setting the programme agenda. The EEI will be most sustainable when it is "owned" by the country's citizens, not by the donors, which will engage the citizens in carrying out solutions to increase IT educational opportunities. The EEI's new approach is based on the conviction that the issue of barriers to IT education is best addressed by the country's decision- makers who directly control resources. This is not Egypt's first educational initiative, on the other hand. Previous attempts to build IT labs in public schools have been made all over the country, but many labs were not properly used due to the lack of awareness and the scarcity of IT teachers. "We have high hopes to amend the previous situation through training both students and teachers to embrace IT and realise their own potential through it," Temirova explained, adding that this is a challenge for the whole country. According to the agreement signed between Microsoft and MOE, a range of innovative projects for improving and enhancing the educational process are to be introduced and supported. By incorporating Microsoft's state-of- the-art technology, "the MOE will provide preparatory students with the skills and experience they need to compete and excel in the future global community," Amin Abu Bakr, deputy to the minister of education, announced. The programme, he believes, will spur on dramatic improvements in IT education over the next five years: "I am very optimistic with regard to the future results due to the high level of commitment and cooperation throughout the Egyptian government."
