|
SDNP School Program in Bangladesh
Objective:
To assist the SDNP
(Sustainable Development Networking Programme) School Programme of the
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for extending computer
education at school level and develop skilled human resources that
would gradually lead to Bangladesh’s competitiveness in the global ICT
sector.
Background:
SDNP has successfully distributed 150 computers (from the
first consignment of 200 computers in 2002), and 28 computers (from
the second consignment of 200 computers in 2003) and 218 Computers
(from the third consignment of 400 computers in 2005) so far, donated
by the World Computer Exchange (WCE) in Bangladeshi schools since
2002.Under this program, 230 teachers from 126 schools have been given
Computer Training in different batches. This initiative has provided
basic hands on training on fundamental of computer applications to
thousands of students in rural areas of
Bangladesh. The
schools were selected as per the, selection criteria given by the WCE.
During the first shipment, the partners were:
WCE
(World Computers Exchange): they provided the donated computers;
UNDP (United
Nations Development Programme): they provided partial funding and
necessary logistic support to bring the computers in Bangladesh as the
Consignee;
USAID (United
States Agency for International Development): they provided major
funding for the programme to support the administrative costs at WCE;
FED (Foundation for Education and Development): they provided the role
of the lead NGO, handled the currency transfer, support to other NGO
partners of FED. With Google you find many foundation with education
and development in the name, I have choosen here this one;
ISOC (Internet
Society) Bangladesh Chapter: they provided support in selecting a few
local schools;
ICMS (Institute
of Computer Management and Science): they provided free training to
the teachers of the selected school; and
SDNP (Sustainable
Development Networking Programme of Bangladesh) they selected the
schools as per the selection criteria, provided technical assistance,
and distributed the donated computers to the selected schools.
In the first consignment, among the 200
PCs, 150 were distributed to 68 schools. In the second consignment 200
computers were brought under the direct guidance of FED with funding
support from USAID. From the second consignment, about 28 computers
were received by SDNP.
In the first consignment, SDNP
selected schools paid a lump sum of BDT3000.00 (Taka three thousand)
only to cover local expenses, and all the amount were directly
submitted to FED, who handled the financial transactions. Similarly,
an amount of BDT 4700.00 (Taka four thousand and seven hundred) only
were being paid by the schools to FED for each computer in the second
consignment.
For the third consignment, with total financial support from USAID, an
amount of BDT1500.00 (Taka one thousand and five hundred) only for
each computer is being requested and collected through SDNP to cover
local logistic supports. UNDP Bangladesh being the consignee provided
all necessary logistic supports in bringing the computers in
Bangladesh. Among other partners, ICMS is providing free training to
the teachers. The training of teachers has been launched in phases
from August 21, 2005 and till date about 126 schools has obtained
computers from the third consignment.
Role of each partner:
The World Computer Exchange, Inc. (WCE) of USA, which works for
bridging the digital divide for youth, collects donated computer in
the USA and distributes them to the third world countries.
USAID Bangladesh has active interest in promoting the Information
Communication Technology (ICT) sector in the country. Several studies
(e.g. Information Technology Enabled Services Sector study sponsored
by USAID Bangladesh) clearly identified the lack of skilled human
resources is a critical factor for the growth of ICT sector. This type
of initiative is the right kind of step that will widen computer
education at rural level.
UNDP Bangladesh as the Consignee eased up the processes of bringing in
used and donated computers in Bangladesh, and SDNP as a UNDP funded
project has find it as extremely valuable to carry out its mandate for
sustainable development in the country.
At the same time, being a project under the SEMP (Sustainable
Environment Management Programme), this programme obtained necessary
administrative assistance from the government authority.
ICMS is providing necessary training to the teachers at free of costs
throughout the whole programme.
SDNP is selecting the schools as per the selection criteria of WCE,
distributing the computers as per the implementation plan, providing
necessary technical assistance to each school including the lead
schools, that have been established to support the local schools.
Partnership approach:
SDNP has signed a separate MoU with Schools Online programme of Relief
International ( http://www.connect-bangladesh.org ) for running
partnership programmes of similar interests, and under this MoU one of
the South-West lead school in Jessore has been upgraded to Internet
Learning Center.
Future perspectives:
SDNP is looking forward to establish Internet connectivity to each
available school under this programme, so that they can avail the
content service from SDNP’s different servers located throughout the
country (Dhaka, Mymensingh, Cox’s Bazar, Satkhira, and Dinajpur),
including the multipurpose village information centres’s support run
by SDNP. Utilization of the available information backbone for
telemedicine, environmental protection, disaster management, and
e-learning at school level would be the future focus of this programme.
|
