1. Digital Education in a SIDS the Mauritian experience
Ricaud AUCKBUR
Director (E-Education)
Ministry of Education , Mauritius
Wednesday 25 Feb 2015 – UNESCO Paris

2. Mauritius at a glance Independence from UK : 1968 Region : Africa
Sub Region : Mascarene Indian Ocean
Country Size : 60km x 40 km
Population : 1.3M, multi-ethnic
Diversified Economy : Tourism, Services sector, Sugar, Textile ,ICT, Seafood
Narrow natural resource base
GDP per capita : US$ 9200
Mo Ibrahim Governance Index : 1st in Africa
Gender parity in Education (in fact girls do better than boys …)

3. Government visioning
Transforming the country into a knowledge-focussed nation …
…meaning :
developing our only natural resource : our people
investing in an HR profile adapted to 21st century needs
fighting digital isolation, including digital gender-divide
bringing digital education to all students including the marginalised and students with Special Educational Needs

4. A digital learning experience for all
Providing digital education to the marginalised, including girls from vulnerable groups
Students as a new learners through ICT
Expanding educational environments through ICT
ICT as an enabler in teaching and learning
Supporting professional development for teachers and school staff
Improving school administration processes
Supporting effective educational information management.

5. Mobile Learning Initiatives
M-learning Tablet PC Project
Since 2013
Public national procurement through open tendering
26100 Android tablets provided to mid-secondary students and educators
Training of Educators
Training of School Inspectors
Provision of Pedagogical resources
Provision of internet connectivity
Implementation of an sms e-attendance system

6. Objectives of the Mauritius Tablet PC Project
Provision of students of Forms IV and V access to digital educational contents relevant to their curricula.
Ensuring a culture of information mobility through high speed fibre optic cables to every secondary school
Enhancing teacher-student and student-student interactions .
Promoting Science education for girls . An effort to promote science education among girls, who traditionally prefer Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences
Improving learning for girls by providing them with anytime, anywhere opportunities to become independent learners through technology.
Providing easier access to information and e-services
Increasing transition rate to higher education and further training, including encouraging access for girls to higher education
Preparing students and educators for mobile digital literacy and 21st century skills
Bringing digital education to the socially deprived and marginalised (girls with SEN, girls in schools from priority action zones)

7. Project details
Digital pedagogical content in Tablet, relevant to mid secondary Mauritian curricula
Tablets equipped with Classroom Management Software to enhance the teacher-learner interaction.
Tablet usage guideline
Parental control software
Insurance cover
Tablet provided freely to needy students, including girls from disadvantaged backgrounds
Tablets covered by 2-year warranty
Tablets covered by insurance cover

8. Why a guideline ?
Guidelines prepared to sensitize new users of mobile technology on:
Educational Objectives
Responsibilities of head of school
Responsibilities of educator
Responsibilities of parents
Responsibilities of the student
Guidelines on Proper Usage
Insurance Cover
Disclaimer
Technical Warranty

9. Managing of m-education
Setting up of a dedicated E-Education directorate at Ministry
Creation of an inter-ministerial national committee for better national coordination ( comprising Ministries of Education, ICT, Finance, Gender)
Subsidized internet connectivity
Designation of one a public agency responsible for training
Identification of one educator for training and training replication on tablet usage, use of Classroom Management System and use of OERs on the internet
Training for School management
Training of school inspectors
Appointment of ICT Support officers in schools

10. Measures for the marginalised, including girls
Collaboration between Min of Edu and Min of gender equality
Online career-guidancing system to favour access
Free ICT in community-centres and post offices to favour access to marginalised
Subsidised IC3 training – IC3 compulsory at early secondary level
Remove discrimination : Free tablets to needy students at mid-secondary
Contextualised resources - Delivery of training in local languages favouring the marginalised
Provide a space for women and ICT : Implementation of pro-girls ICT events e.g. Digigirlz

11. End quote 1 – on SIDS
“SIDS can envisage rapid technological innovation, especially in information and communications technologies, that will help to overcome island isolation, create new ways of maintaining social and cultural ties across the island diaspora and help evolve new economic activities.”
UNEP GEO Small Island Developing States Outlook.

12. End quote 2- on ICT for women’s development
Information and Communication technology by itself cannot by itself answer all issues concerning women’s development, but it does bring new information resources and open new communication channels for marginalised communities
(V.Nath, LSE)

13. THANK YOU ! www.tabletpc.intnet.mu Ricaud AUCKBUR Director E-Education
Mauritius