1. The Business of Schools
Mark East
Senior Director of Education
Europe, Middle East & Africa
Microsoft Corporation

2. The African Pathfinder
The “Business of Schools” Blueprint for Africa
Partnership with Namibian Government
13 pilot schools, Teacher Training (labs, curriculum's, activities), Community Technology Centres, PC Refurbishment centre.
Celebrated June 2005

3. Pathfinder Completion June 2005

4. ICT Strategy Blueprint – 9 Critical Components

5. 2. Policy

6. Policy – The Route Map

7. 3. Research
‘Over the past decade, many countries have spent significant time, energy, and resources to design e-strategies which often remained blue prints, or white elephants because no systematic set of indicators had been agreed upon and established to monitor and evaluate their implementation’. The World Bank E-Strategies Monitoring And Evaluation Toolkit, January 2005

8. School Technology Innovation Centres
For best practice and innovation in the effective use of ICT in Teaching and Learning.
African Centre: South Africa

9. 4. Access
Back to main diagram

10. Access – PC Refurbishment Centre
In Vocational Training Centre
Led to first vocational PC technician course for the country
Young students - 90% never touched a PC, 30% female
Owned by government, run by local organisations
Supplying schools, Ministry, Community Centres through local partners

11. Digital Pipeline First pipeline between UK and Namibia completed.
Developed by Microsoft
Refurbished PCs from Europe for African Schools and Communities
First pipeline between UK and Namibia completed.
Phase two starting – scaling up to include Europe and Africa
Links to Partners in Learning
Refurbishment centre now operational including training for young people

12. 5. Innovative Solutions
“Not only has Microsoft enabled us to utilise our first computer laboratory through this program but through Microsoft software we are also able to give our students the same experience as students in Western Europe.” Mr. Damaseb, headmaster at Eden Primary School, Namibia,

13. Scaleable/Sustainable Solutions
31 seat PC labs deployed by Namibian Government,
New server, wireless network, printer, 31 refurbished PCs, Office XP, Windows Server, Encarta Encyclopaedia, configuration, installation, 1 year support – US$16K

14. 6. Curriculum
“Partners in Learning has had a dramatic effect on the curriculum. Teachers are incredibly enthusiastic about the role of IT in the classroom and pupils are much more motivated to learn.” Professor Abdur Rauf, Director of Education, Federally Administered Tribal Area, Pakistan

15. Jordan Education Initiative
This curriculum provides 520 lesson plans, localised in Arabic and containing multimedia elements in every lesson for teaching IT skills in grades 1 to 10 in schools throughout the region

16. 7. Training

17. Blueprint for teacher training

18. 8. Communities and Partners

19. Innovative Teachers Network

20. 9. Support

21. Education Support Centres
National ESC’s connect to Global ESC that connects back to Microsoft technical teams
Problem Solved
University ICT Students provide high level technical advice to fix the problem
Call the Education Support Centre
A problem is found that can not be solved locally

22. 1. Leadership

23. Leadership
“A ministry of education cannot take on the task of equipping schools alone. It is simply too big a job. Governments will need to form strategic partnerships if they are to succeed.” Ten Lessons for ICT and Education in the Developing World, Robert J. Hawkins, World Links for Development Program, The World Bank Institute

24. ICT Trust of Kenya

25. “A well-educated and skilled society leads to improved development through healthcare, nutrition and economic performance. By working together, the Namibian Parliament and Microsoft have begun an important process of equipping today’s students, who are tomorrow’s leaders, with the resources and skills that will pave the way for a more prosperous future. I believe I speak for every Member of Parliament in saying I am very proud of the success of the African Pathfinder initiative and confident in the potential it has to empower the people of Namibia.” Theo-Ben Gurirab, Speaker of the Parliament of Namibia and former prime minister.