SCHOOLNET AFRICA

Talking about "bridging the digital divide" has become the vogue particularly since the G8 proclaimed the Okinawa Charter in July 2000. Since then a host of talkshops have produced action plans and frameworks to fulfil this important objective. In the meanwhile, a grassroots movement has been in the making in Africa over the past three years that attempts at giving concrete expression to bridging the much-vaunted "digital divide": organisations promoting education in African schools through the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), otherwise known as "schoolnets", have mushroomed in over 20 African countries to date. This evolution has given way to the establishment of a SchoolNetAfrica to facilitate the growth and development of national schoolnets across the continent.

Headquartered in South Africa and governed by a 12 member Steering Committee representing 10 countries from all five sub-regions across the continent, including a representative from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, SchoolNetAfrica is the first African-based, African-led, pan-African school networking institution on the continent. In partnership with national schoolnets SchoolNetAfrica kicks off with a number of flagship projects. Over the next three years, under the banner of an aptly phrased: OPERATION DOT LEARN program, SchoolNetAfrica plans to
- Connect African schools to the Internet
- Build champions to lead and develop national schoolnets
- Pilot the development of online curriculum
- Create a knowledge warehouse
- Promote the development of "world class" learners through its ThinkQuest Africa competition
- Lobby and advocate for cheap Internet access for schools in Africa

Already its national schoolnets have established partnerships with government ministries of education and telecommunications, the private sector and NGOs at national level. It’s A-team Steering Committee has already forged partnerships with major donor and development agencies such as the Open Society Institute for Southern Africa, the International Development Research Centre, the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the UNESCO. On 12 November 2001 SchoolNetAfrica will be hosting an official launch in Johannesburg South Africa which will be addressed by African Ministers of Education and Telecommunication and African students. The launch calls for partnerships with the private sector and will appeal for pledges of support.

SchoolNetAfrica’s vision focuses on the development of African learners as critical thinkers through their access to world class resources through ICTs. In realising this vision, SchoolNetAfrica intends to lobby extensively for cheaper Internet access in various African countries. Its underlying philosophy is that ICTs have significant potential to enhance education in Africa and holds the key to polevault Africa into the 21st century. SchoolNetAfrica stands for the right of every African child to have access to information and knowledge and to be a global citizen. Indeed, the private sector would do well in this worthy attempt at improving the lives of African children and youth.

Source: TAD Consortium November 2001 Information Update No. 1