World Bank targets SA disadvantaged schools for computer access

The World Bank, together with SchoolNet SA, is participating in a nationwide drive to introduce information and communication technologies (ICT) to disadvantaged South African disadvantaged schools. The World Links for Development (WorLD) programme, is a pilot educational project that forms part of the World Bank initiative to fund the implementation of ICT in schools developing countries.

"South Africa is one of WorLD`s priority countries for 1998/99, along with other developing countries such as Senegal, Uganda, Mozambique and Mauritania. The World Bank is working with various IT companies, some of whom have made quite meaningful contributions in donating computing equipment, and providing technical and training support, " says Robert Hawkins of the World Bank.

Partners of the programme include Microsoft, Internet Solutions, Novell, Sun Microsystems, 3Com and Gas Software. Funding for the SA programme has also been received from the Canadian-based International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Netherlands` International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD).

The programme is managed by SchoolNet SA, an NGO that focuses on the implementation and effective use of ICTs in South African schools. SchoolNet`s objective is to assist in the development of a national education network, forming the `information backbone` of South African Education, says Denis Brandjes, Executive Director of SchoolNet SA.

"The WorLD programme is being rolled out in secondary schools and will reach over thirty schools in the North West, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng," says Philemon Kotsokoane, WorLD co-ordinator for SchoolNet SA. According to Kotsokoane, the WorLD programme will be monitored for conclusive results in terms of the value of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the process of education.

A major contribution to the project was the donation of 10 Ultra 5 servers from the local subsidiary of Sun Microsystems. These will act as hub-site servers for school networks in various provinces, as well as for three community training facilities. The deployment of the equipment to the centres in the North West, based at Mmbatho High School, and KwaZulu-Natal, at Zenzeleni Centre in Mphopomeni, is in progress while a third centre is to be established in the Eastern Cape.

" Schools chosen to participate in the programme were requested to submit a business plan to ensure that projects in these schools were sustainable. These are evaluated together with the relevant provincial Department of Education. To ensure proper utilisation of ICT, we have already trained more than 120 teachers and students over the past few months, " explains Kotsokoane, who believes that the SA educational system should be transformed into a knowledge-based model in order to make the country globally competitive.

SchoolNet SA has also forged partnerships with several national government departments, which include Education, Communications, Arts Culture Science and Technology as well as Trade and Industry.

For further information on SchoolNet, please visit their website at http://www.school.za.