Human Resource Development

November 24, 2006

The State Minister for Human Resource Development, D. Purandeswari has suggested that other countries can learn from India about implementation of schemes like Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan, Mid Day Meal, Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) centres and National Literacy Mission during Education For All (EFA) meeting at Cairo, Egypt.

The Minster has also elaborated on the innovative resource mobilisation of Indian Government for achieving the aim of EFA, while referring to the educational programmes and the Prarambhik Siksha Kosh. The Minister also spoke about the special intervention, regarding the Indian girls in terms of free uniform, text books and special schools. According to her, the Global Monitoring Report (GMR) 2007 claims that Indian children below were involved in the armed conflict.

Secondary schools of Uganda will get computer labs

News

digitalLEARNING Network

November 23, 2006

Now, the majority of secondary schools in < ?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Uganda would be equipped with computer laboratories. < ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

The ICT state minister Alintuma Nsambu announced this plan at the Media Node ICT journalists' workshop. According to him, these laboratories would encourage ICT programmes. About 54 schools were already equipped with computer laboratories. It is expected the scheme will take place by next year.

Education: the critical element in Jamaica

News

digitalLEARNING Network

November 23, 2006

According to the director of Telecommunications Policy and Management at the school of business, Dr. Hopeton Dunn, it is critical to create and implement education and infrastructure in the creation and implementation of < ?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Jamaica's National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) strategic plan.< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Currently he is re-writing the country's national ICT strategic plan, which can be used to enhance Jamaica's social and economic development through ICT. Infrastructure development and universal access to computer hardware and broadband services are other critical areas which will be included in the plan. The National ICT plan include: e-Government; e-Commerce; research and innovation; culture, content and creativity as well as preparing an appropriate legislative and policy framework. Even the plan would make specific reference to strategic public areas like e-Services, health, security, tourism, agriculture and labour, including the concept of telework.

ICT training to 500 teachers in Nigeria

News

digitalLEARNING Network

November 22, 2006

In Rivers State, the government has flagged-off the training of 500 junior and senior secondary school teachers across the state on ICT skill.

The four-day intensive computer training/workshop opened on November 21, 2006, at the NIIT Quality Computer Education Centre, Kaduna Street in Port Harcourt. The State Commissioner of Education, Dr Ngozi Odu said that the decision to hold the workshop was informed by the central role computer studies play in the education system. She explained that two teachers each were selected among the 245 schools in the state, while 20 teachers were selected from private schools within Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor local government areas.

New VC at Rajasthan University

Higher Education

digitalLEARNING Network

November 21, 2006

Prof BL Sharma has been appointed as the new VC of Rajasthan University. He was previously the Vice Chancellor for Gujarat's Bhavnagar University. He was appointed by acting Rajasthan Governor Shivraj Patil. Prof Sharma is to hold this position for three years. Prof Sharma, 55, who was earlier head of Human Rights Law Department in Law Faculty of Saurashtra University, Rajkot, has been the Bhavnagar University Vice-Chancellor since July last year. With a teaching experience spanning 27 years, he has been associated with several committees of the University Grants Commission.

Technology could play a pivotal role in good governance says Nandan Nilekeni

Higher Education

digitalLEARNING Network

November 21, 2006

Speaking at a symposium on Sustainable Transformation: Our New India's Pan IIT 2010, Dinesh Trivedi, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, emphasised the need for India to develop on all parameters and not just stark GDP figures. Happiness and welfare of all are important and especially for those below the poverty line. We need he said, to break the divide between the Haves and have-nots. Technology is good but should benefit all. In fact it is the responsibility of those technologically proficient to pass on the benefits to the rest of society. In keeping with his mood His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shanker, appealed to all Indians to use their energies, healthy body and mind for the benefit of all. Giving an example of an effort in the self same direction, Nandan Nilekeni Chairman of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) reiterated that technology, the UID No. could transform society at large. India, he held, has 120 million migrants today with numbers on the rise everyday. These sections' need to reap the benefits of social sector welfare schemes, but are often denied on account 'identification' documents. The issue currently is not that there is inadequate allocation of funds but one of delivery. The benefits have not reached the deserving. This despite the substantial increase in social welfare schemes in the last 10 years. All Indians deserve the fruits of good governance.

The pilot project, he informed has already been implemented in many areas of Karnataka. The allotment of the UID No. would empower the Indian citizen to operate from any part of the country. It would be single source enabler which would empower them for social security/welfare requirements. In its initial phase of 14 months close to 6 lakh+ people have already been covered. Set up along with the Government of India, currently the financials stand at 40 Crores. In keeping with the overall theme of the Conference, that of transforming through Technology, Nilekeni enlightened all that UID technology (Project Aadhar) would empower the common man and assist the Government in better governance. Efforts he also stated are on to network banks and other financial institutions into the UID system. Speaking on the role of the Government in not being able to lead India towards a truly transforming path, Shailesh Gandhi, Central Information Commissioner squarely stated that the though the will may be there, the structure and policies are not designed to deliver. He gave HR policies and practices as an example. What India requires today, India includes both the people at large and the Government, is to work together for a change, talent being plenty. For India to transform every Indian must feel he has stake in the Government.

Another important facet of the hurdles to transformation was vociferously brought out by Arvind Kejriwal, RTI Activist. In response to Pradeep Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director's, remark that corruption in India is no longer retail but is wholesale, Kejriwal agreed but at same time gave important positive suggestions. The Commonwealth Games exposed the shocking scale and arrogance of corruption. Media has already played its role and the citizens now need to voice their concerns and demand a single investigative agency with the power to act against all, politicians and bureaucrats' included. The current set up is bizarre. The CVC for example has 32 people to investigate 1500 departments. The closing session on 'Building a sustainable future: The Green Society' saw global leaders speaking on the way forward to build a green global society that could further sustain the transformational growth. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Commissioner of the Planning Commission, said, 'There has to be a global agreement on the issue of climate change and only cumulative efforts could meet the green objectives. India's National Action Plan for Climate Change is taking necessary steps in liaison with the global community and drafting a way forward to reduce carbon emissions in India.'

Survey: 71% Urban Indian students use personal computers

News

digitalLEARNING Network

November 20, 2006

A survey done by information technology giant Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., in Indian metropolitan areas says that a striking 71% of students in Indian metropolitan areas say they use personal computers. The survey found that 66 % of students in the southern city of Bangalore mentioned that they were active on blogging and social networking sites, compared with 39% nationally. The survey of nearly 14,000 kids studying in English-language schools in 12 major cities in India shows schoolchildren here have embraced technology and the Internet, with Google and Wikipedia overtaking the library as the most trusted source of information.

Conducted in 2008 and 2009, the survey is the outgrowth of a quiz show that Tata Consultancy launched a decade ago in English schools across India to create an interest in technology. Through the survey, Tata Consultancy hopes to connect with potential employees by gaining a better understanding of how young people use technology to work, play and think, told the company officials. Rising incomes among India's middle class have meant that more families are likely to own a personal computer. Among the many significant findings of the survey was the fact that the highest percentage of users of personal computers were in Bangalore and Delhi, at 77%. Some 63% of children surveyed said they spent more than an hour each day on the Internet; 41% of school children surveyed chose Google as a source of information, while 46% said they use online sources to access news. Far fewer children reported using the library. Cochin in Kerala ranked the highest in library usage, at 14%. Blogging and social networking also appear to be gaining ground. Higher education abroad remains a common goal among students. The U.S. remains the most popular study destination with nearly 40% preferring to study there, the survey found. However, when it comes to their careers, 49% said they would like to stay in India. Laptops and Ipod players do not appear to have reached many homes, according the survey. Mumbai had the highest laptop penetration, at 38%, compared to the national average of 19%. Tata Consultancy is one of India's largest information technology players, with 48,000 employees in India, 95% of whom are 25 years old or younger.

Educational Bill gets Green Signal at Rajya Sabha

News

digitalLEARNING Network

November 20, 2006

The landmark bill for providing free and compulsory education to children aged 6-14 years was tagged with a warning of 'disastrous consequences' if it was not passed. On Monday, however, the Rajya Sabha gave the measure its unanimous approval, but only 56 members were present at the time of voting. Kapil Sibal, Human Resource Development Minister explained that the bill was form of a great opportunity that we need to grasp otherwise the consequences of missing it can be disastrous, while winding up the five-hour debate on The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill.

The debate on the bill threw up the unlikely scenario in which it attracted support from across spectrum but with member after member, even from the treasury benches, finding what they termed glaring lacunae in the measure but knowing fully well that their suggestions would not be considered by the government but would only be a matter of record. The bill had been introduced in December 2008 by Sibal's predecessor Arjun Singh, who was dropped after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recast the government after the United Progressive Alliance's resounding victory in the April-May general elections. The bill, which now goes to the Lok Sabha for consideration and approval before it is sent to the president for assent, will go down in parliamentary history for more reasons than one. Apart from the railway and general budgets for fiscal 2009-10, the bill is the first legislation to be passed, and that too unanimously in the UPA's second coming. This apart, this is the first time since December 2008 that the treasury and opposition benches have been united. The last time around, they had come together to pass a bill to create a National Investigation Agency (NIA) and a bill to amend the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

WORLD

Magazine

digitalLEARNING Network

November 19, 2006

Libyan pupils ‘to have laptops’
The government of Libya is reported to have agreed to provide its 1.2m school children with a cheap durable laptop computer by June 2008. According to One Laptop per Child sources, the laptops offer Internet access and are powered by a wind-up crank. They cost USD100 and manufacturing begins next year.

Audio Haptics for visually
impaired information technology Audio Haptics, the project seeks to improve the inclusion of workers or trainees who are blind or visually impaired in vocational training programmes using visual materials, by delivering these in a non visual format, which is touch and sound. The project in European Union will design, produce and test pilot learning materials, as well as create an online training programme for teachers. By the innovative methodology, accessibility to visual graphics for the visually impaired can be improved. This project is about making learning materials that are visual by nature accessible to those who are partially sighted or blind. e-ISOTIS (Information Society pen To ImpairmentS), the non-profit making organisation founded in December 002, working with People with Disabilities, Elderly, their spouses as well as embers of the ICT (Information Communication Technology) community, orldwide, is the dissemination leader of this project.

TechnoFuture introduces Educators’ ICT Training
A “Train-the-Trainers” programme for teachers of primary and secondary schools, as well as lecturers of Colleges of Education has commenced in six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The modular-based programme, known as TechnoTeacher is being promoted by an company TechnoFuture Nigeria, in collaboration with the Education Trust Fund (ETF). It would teach educators ow to optimise their skills using the computer and other Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools to maximise the learning experience. TechnoFuture was introduced in Canada in 1993 initially to teach learners from the age of four to 18 as a unique combination of technology and business skills, using theme-based projects.

Nigerian higher education has less than 5% ICT applications
With less than 5% application of Information Communications Technology (ICT) in Nigerian institutions, according to published studies on institutional echnology application, most of these institutions have little or no nfrastructure for cyber centers, computer-equipped classrooms or high–speed internet and do not even have the fund to implement such infrastructure on their own. Available statistics shows there are more than 181 institutions of higher learning in Nigeria but a sizeable number of these institutions have enrollments of more than 20,000 students, with computer ratio at 200 students to 1 computer, or worse for most state universities. These institutions lack the expertise on faculty to provide students with practical hands-on training in ICT, either for basic computer skills, or for more advanced capabilities.

Science GCSE with online exams
British school pupils can now take a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE – the name of a set of British qualifications, taken by secondary school students) entirely online – including doing the coursework and exams electronically. The new environmental and landbased science course is said to be the first totally non-paper GCSE. It is being offered by the OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA {Royal Society of Arts}) exam board and is aimed at those considering careers such as horticulture, farming, waste management and conservation. OCR said candidates would sit computerbased tests under normal controlled examination conditions and submit their coursework electronically – so they could incorporate video, photographs, presentations and written reports

News Corporate

Magazine

digitalLEARNING Network

November 19, 2006

InfoSource Learning and CyberLearning partner to help
increase digital literacy globally InfoSource Learning, the United States based developer and solution provider in the education, corporate, and government training markets announced a strategic partnership with CyberLearning, a non-profit project of the National Education Foundation, aimed at providing effective and affordable digital education, globally. Two CyberLearning rojects that are set to launch this year will help increase digital literacy in India and in Mauritius, the island nation, between India and Africa in the Indian Ocean. InfoSource supports these projects by supplying its award-winning Digital Literacy courseware library and Learning Management System for this effort. CyberLearning will utilise InfoSource’s Digital Literacy online courseware, CD ROMs, and books to train at least one person in every village.

Hewitt Associates for curricula changes in Indian educational institutions
Hewitt Associates, a global consulting firm for the outsourcing industry, will provide a road map to the State Governments in India for creating educational institutions that would match the requirement of the industry. The company will propose changes in the curriculum of educational institutes, for which it is in talks with 10 State Governments, including Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Punjab, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Sikkim amongst others. It will also analyse the hallenges that individual States face in the context of human resources for the BPO sector. At present, it is focusing on making college level graduates more employable.
Microsoft in partnership in Gujarat
Microsoft India and the Government of Gujarat have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at providing University students and faculty in the state easier access to Information Technology. This agreement will allow students in Gujarat develop skills on nextgeneration Microsoft tools and technologies, including .NET, thereby improving their career prospects. Under the partnership, Microsoft will provide training to students in the pre-final or final year of the Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Science and IT stream) and MCA programs, leveraging the BISAG (Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applicatons and Geoinformatics) SATCOM (satellite ommunications) facility. The faculty in these institutions will also, thereby, get an opportunity to collaborate with experts from across the world, besides getting access to Microsoft s premium technology events.

VTU ties-up with Liqwid
Krystal for online learning E-learning solutions provider Liqwid Krystal and Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), announced a collaboration, to offer gyanX, an online learning platform for employable skills to all students of VTU. According to the agreement, Liqwid Krystal will provide IT and soft skills to the students through a select catalog of online courseware, books and other content. Empowering students to learn interactively is one of the visible elements of this learning platform. PRODUCTS HP encourages e-learning with tailor-made notebooks

HP has provided Al Mawakeb with over 320 HP Compaq nc6320 notebooks with the latest Intel Duo Core that have tailor-made features helping to optimise the utility of the notebooks and enhancing the use of multimedia technologies in the learning process, improving the student skills on the subject matter. The new notebooks are also supported by a wireless network through HP servers to allow a stable and reliable solution to provide a full IT infrastructure for the students. The notebooks are designed for durability and performance fitted with an antiscratch, spill proof keyboard and come with HP Mobile HDD protection and biometric fingerprint sensors to protect the student’s information.

Oracle integrates two educational programmes
Enterprise software company, Oracle has announced it will combine its two information technology education programmes – the Oracle Academy and the Oracle Academic Initiative – to offer a comprehensive course called the Oracle Academy. The new programme would benefit educators and students by giving them broader choice and increased flexibility in curricula and educational offerings.

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