Developing Guiding Principles for ICT in Education Policy Proposal to Dep't of Education, MHRD, Govt of India Developing Guiding Principles for ICT in Education Policy GeSCI – India

Why do we need an ICT in Education Policy? Approximately 1000 ICT initiatives across India - need convening and alignment to avoid duplication of resources. Outside of government initiatives, many ICT4D & E programs do not report to any authority – cannot be aggregated. Inequality in ICT4E progress between states – need platform for knowledge sharing to ensure equitable development. Need for a neutral trusted party to independently monitor progress and evaluate impact. We need a scaled-up ICT4E policy that sets down a framework to capture the lessons learned from both pilots and mature initiatives for future roadmaps. GeSCI – India

GeSCI proposes the following Process : MHRD to appoint a steering committee, selected from the ranks of related GoI structures, academia, state-wide representative bodies, the private sector and civil society sector. To be followed by a national consultative process to understand the needs, challenges and issues of the states and union territories and other stake holders at large. This consultative process could take the form of regional workshops in key areas and meetings with key stakeholders and surveys. Committee to recommend a plan of action to MHRD on how to best assist the states and union territories and other stakeholders in the ICT in Education arena. The findings will be distilled to the MHRD. Recommendations will be made in the form of a dynamic ICT in Education policy which can be updated on an ongoing basis. The “How” GeSCI – India

Proposal : With GeSCI’s assistance, Dept of Education, MHRD to evolve a policy on use of ICT in Education, using the following steps: Developing an appropriate framework to support the effective deployment and integration of ICTs in the Education system Providing a platform for dialogue amongst all relevant stakeholders to ensure alignment of plans, programs and projects Evolving a strategy for leveraging economies of scale in procurement of standard content, equipment and services, and leverage resources from other partners Evolving a mechanism to ensure that knowledge, expertise and skills are shared across all states and territories Building in house capacities within the MoE to conduct regular updates for ensuring a dynamic and live policy The “what” GeSCI – India

Approach An efficient ‘end-to-end’ system, being demand-driven and based on strong partnership and close co-ordination, is the key to achieving real impact: Key inputs System User Deployment of ICT platform Content User training and support Technical support Monitoring and reporting Educational Objectives Partners Funding GeSCI – India

GeSCI – India

Road map Stage-I Creation of the Steering Committee, a small and representative body to lead and spearhead the process, headed by the Education Secy and his team of representatives Formation of a Task Force, a team comprising of the Implementation partners, representatives of the thematic groups, to collate, distill and present the recommendations of the thematic groups to the Steering Com Formation of the Thematic groups, comprising of experts and stakeholder representatives to carry out the consultative process culminating in a set of recommendations to be included in the Guidelines The “How” GeSCI – India

Road map Stage-II On the advice of the Steering Com, the Task Force to call for the first meeting with all the proposed stakeholders, including representatives from the states and the academia etc The Task Force will initiate a national consultative process to understand the needs, challenges and issues of the states and union territories and other stake holders at large This consultative process could take the form of workshops in key thematic areas and meetings with key stakeholders and surveys The thematic groups would meet regularly to come up with a set of recommendations that will form the Guidelines on the National ICT in Education policy The “How” GeSCI – India

Road map Stage-III The results of the consultative process and considerations of each Thematic group would be collated and recommendations would be made to the Task Force The Task Force would distil all the recommendations from the thematic groups and provide intra linkages between the various thematic groups and inter linkages between related departments. The Task Force would then collate the recommendations thus recd and create a draft document to be presented to the Steering Com The Steering Com would add to the document and approve a draft ICT in Education policy The “How” GeSCI – India

Steering Committee: Composition, roles and responsibilities The Steering Com would be headed by the Education Secy, while the Members would consist of highly regarded and committed persons from the ranks of related GoI structures, academia, state-wide representative bodies, the private sector and the civil society sector The Steering Com would provide the overall leadership and vision for the task and have the final authority on the project The Steering Com would review the recommendations arising out of the thematic consultations and approve the final draft of the ICT in Education policy guidelines The Steering Com would meet quarterly to deliberate on the recommendations of the thematic groups and will make recommendations based on past experiences, lessons learnt from similar experiences in different states in India and from other countries or expert advice GeSCI – India

Task Force: Composition, roles and responsibilities The Task Force would comprise of the representatives of the Steering Com, the main implementation partner and the leaders of the respective thematic groups On the advice of the Steering Com, the Task Force would convene the thematic workshops in succession and receive recommendations from each thematic group The Task Force would approve the agenda, participants, discussion forums and timelines for the first meeting and provide a broad guideline for the thematic workshops The Task Force will comment on the recommendation recd from the thematic groups and provide necessary counsel to evolve a final set of recommendations on each thematic area The existence of the Task Force would supersede the duration of the said task, it would convene periodically after the task to update the existing policy, incorporate new changes and keep the policy dynamic The Steering com may also suggest and recommend the representatives of the Task Force. The Steering Com may also designate selected members of the Task Force to represent their areas of expertise in the Steering Com GeSCI – India

Proposed Thematic areas Infrastructure and deployment Content Training and usage Maintenance and technical support Monitoring and Evaluation Note: Alternative and/or additional thematic groups may emerge during the first meeting with the Steering Committee GeSCI – India

Suggested Time Line 2007 2008 Activities Stage – 1 ( activities – 1-2)   2007 2008 Months 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 Activities Stage – 1 ( activities – 1-2) Research & Documentation on state of Policy on Education Meetings of Steering Committee Stage – 2 ( activities – 3-4) Meetings of the Task Force Thematic Workshops Stage – 3 ( activities – 5-6) Final Collation and submission of recommendations the Task Force Review by Steering Com and preparation of draft policy GeSCI – India

Roles and responsibilities of core partners: MoE & GeSCI GeSCI - to help lend expertise both in-house and via external partners GeSCI - to attend relevant meetings, workshops and conferences, providing assistance where applicable GeSCI - to help MHRD establish key partnerships with national and/or international organisations MoE - to provide leadership and support, facilitating access to other government departments and stakeholders MoE - to appoint a nodal officer to coordinate the work with other stakeholders MoE - to provide personnel, as needed to assist in research and planning MoE - to organise the thematic workshops and planning meetings GeSCI – India

Next Steps MoU between Dept of Education, MHRD, GoI and GeSCI Gesci to help identify and sign up partnership agreements with approved Strategic / Implementing partner/ s MHRD to appoint a Nodal officer of the position of Director of Education within the MHRD GeSCI to help MHRD Nodal officer to produce an ‘Existing State of Policy in Education in India’  - at the centre, the states and other territories. Document to provide the basis for the first workshop from which thematic areas would be proposed. GeSCI to help MHRD and stakeholders to identify initial partner states. GeSCI – India