Intel puts the spotlight on eLearning in Africa: Vice President addresses eLA Africa attendees on 21st century learning skills
Intel Corporation has partnered with eLA Africa for the second year in a row, as part of the company's ongoing drive to work with local governments, market players and NGOs to provide children in the African continent with the latest in educational infrastructure available globally.
At the event set to take place in Accra this week, William Swope, Vice President and General Manager, Corporate Affairs Group and other Intel professionals will meet with decision-makers, government officials and educators to discuss latest technology in education techniques and exchange know-how on enhancing eLearning programmes in Africa as a means of helping to bridge the digital divide.
"The knowledge economy is a reality and all countries, both developed and emerging, have recognized the importance of innovation and the creation of critical thinkers. At Intel, we have been involved in education for over 40 years now as we are confident that this is a key element for the long-term success of any economy," said William Swope, Vice President and General Manager, Corporate Affairs Group, Intel Corporation. "To compete, you need to innovate. And to innovate you need to educate. These basic principles are the foundation for our Intel® Teach Program and our call to action at this conference".
According to UNICEF statistics, despite 94% of African students enrolling in primary school, only 45 to 50% of these make it to secondary school. Improved digital inclusion and eLearning programmes is an important development in Africa which will ensure that more and more students receive education of high global standards and are equipped with the 21st century skills needed to participate in today's economy.
"Intel is dedicated to improving student life in Africa and helping to bridge the digital divide," said Devan Naidoo, General Manager, Intel Corporation Africa. "Intel has kicked off various digital inclusion programs in Africa and there is a huge potential to do more. The Intel World Ahead Program marks our commitment to working with fellow citizens to help take ICT development to the next level and to helping African youth to compete on a global scale."
During the week of the conference, Intel will also launch skoool.com for Ghana, a groundbreaking educational tool that has been running successfully in Nigeria for almost two years. skoool.com.gh, the new portal which will provide Ghanaian students and teachers with the best online education tools available worldwide; it will offer Math and Science modules which have been tailored to suit the new Ghana Education Service Curriculum.
Through its skoool.com offering, Intel is working with local companies to provide localised science and math content for secondary students in South Africa and Nigeria and are set to launch the program in Egypt and Libya soon.
Intel is not new in Ghana. The company recently set up two projects in the country - Africa's first WiMAX connected school and the iAdvance digital inclusion initiative. The selected school for the pilot project, the Accra Girls Secondary School, was set up with a full eLearning centre, hardware, software, Internet connectivity and teacher training. WiMAX technology is now used to provide high-speed Internet access to the school. The iAdvance is Ghana's digital inclusion initiative and was set up with the aim of ensuring that Ghanaians have access to PCs, the Internet and software.
As part of Intel's education initiatives in Africa, four Intel Computer Clubhouse Networks have been established in the Republic of South Africa reaching 3,000 children every year and the Intel Higher Education Program in Egypt has successfully set up 8 wireless and multicore labs and curricula.
Intel also supports NEPAD e-schools initiative phase 1 in 16 countries across the continent. Intel has recently seen the first Nigerian finalists for the Intel Science and Education Fair.
This marks a significant milestone since the launch of Intel's education initiatives and programs in Nigeria which officially commenced in September 2006 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Education. As part of the Intel World Ahead Program, Intel worked with local educators and the Ministry of Education to inaugurate a digital inclusion program in several schools in Nigeria as well as Kenya.
Across markets including South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt and Morocco, Intel has signed MoUs with the government to further ICT development, has trained teachers as part of the Intel Teach Program and works tirelessly to help the young generation have a better chance in life.
The Intel Teach Program has trained 250,000 teachers to date in Africa, while the Intel® Learn Program has managed to reach 100,000 students in Egypt. Following the opening of its office in Lagos in April 2006, Intel finalised the details of the Intel Teach Program in Nigeria that has reached 8,100 teachers.