Fujitsu Siemens Computers joins Nepad e-Schools Initiative

The Nepad e-Schools Initiative was launched in 2003 with the primary goal of imparting ICT skills to young Africans in primary and secondary schools. This Nepad initiative involves several countries and multi-stakeholders across the entire continent of Africa.

Through this initiative, which ultimately targets more than half-a-million schools on the continent, it is intended to improve the provision of education in schools, equipping the population with ICT skills which will in turn, result in far-reaching implications for the development of African society.

The skills that the students will take away from this initiative will enable them to function effectively within the emerging information society and knowledge economy.

The initiative will empower students and enable them to demonstrate proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail, Internet browsing, presentation tools and graphics. Through this they will be able to use technology to collaborate, publish and interact with peers, experts and the broader "connected community".

They will also be able to locate, evaluate and collect information through the use of technology, and become active participants in their own learning and become more productive learners. This in turn will make them more analytical, and promote broader thinking in the learning process.

A further objective of the initiative is to make every learner health literate. Health education will be promoted and provided through digital content. The online environment and the educational programmes will be used to promote healthy living and to inform and educate on issues such as HIV and AIDS, TB, nutrition, antiretrovirals, malaria, general hygiene and diarrhoea.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers is currently a member of two consortia in this initiative, one with Oracle and the other with Microsoft. Fujitsu Siemens Computers as a consortium member in each of these two consortia participates in piloting the initiative in 24 schools across 10 countries on the continent, namely Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Lesotho, Cameroon, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda and Senegal. Fujitsu Siemens Computers` joint contribution to the pilot phase is estimated at around 400 000 euros.

"This initiative is important for Fujitsu Siemens Computers," says Dino Kondos, SME Sales and Distribution Channel Manager - English-speaking Africa. "Aside from creating better working relationships with Oracle and Microsoft, we will gain extensive brand visibility throughout Africa, particularly in the government and NGO sectors. We will develop and nurture these relationships as we believe that these could assist us in gaining a foothold in the government sector in the various countries, thus strengthening our brand penetration across the continent."

The demo phase is expected to be completed within 18 months. After the completion of the demo phase, the initiative will roll-out an aggressive target of completing an estimated 600 000 schools within 10 years.