1. UNCTAD Organised by: WSIS Process WSIS FORUM 2010 10-14 May, Geneva Hosted by: 16.12.10 Action Line IFM C7: e-Learning ICTs and Education Tuesday 11 May 2010 16:00–17:30 Room H Susan Schorr, Head a.i., Special Initiatives Division ITU-D ITU BDT Flagship Initiative Connect a School, Connect a Community

2. Organised by: Hosted by:WSIS Process UNCTAD Broadband is an education enabler, an education essential Integrating ICTs into education, using Web 2.0 and Open Educational Resources requires schools to be connected to broadband Internet networks? Broadband is an education enabler One of the reasons ITU launched the BDT Flagship Initiative, Connect a School, Connect a Community

3. Organised by: Hosted by:WSIS Process UNCTAD Connect a School, Connect a Community Endorsed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at ITU World TELECOM 2009 Youth Forum www.connectaschool.org

4. Organised by: Hosted by:WSIS Process UNCTAD Connect a School, Connect a Community: ICT for All To promote access to and use of ICTs by all people, including marginalized and vulnerable groups: –women and girls –indigenous people –persons with disabilities –youth and children and –people living in underserved communities

5. Organised by: Hosted by:WSIS Process UNCTAD What are the ICT Needs of Special Initiatives Populations? Extension of broadband networks to their schools, homes, communities and public offices Need for accessible ICTS –Assistive technologies for persons with disabilities –ICT and language literacy training Harnessing ICTs for poverty reduction and wealth creation

6. Organised by: Hosted by:WSIS Process UNCTAD Why Connect Schools? Connecting schools serves the children and youth who attend schools whether in urban or rural areas –Teach ICT literacy –Incorporate ICTs into curriculum –Expand educational possibilities –Teach responsible online behavior

7. Organised by: Hosted by:WSIS Process UNCTAD Why Connect Communities? Connected schools can be used as community ICT centres to meet the ICT needs of the local community, especially in rural and remote areas –Meet their accessibility needs, including for persons with disabilities –Provide basic ICT and language literacy training –Provide life skills and vocational and educational training

8. Organised by: Hosted by:WSIS Process UNCTAD How to connect schools? Encourage ITU Members – ICT regulators and policy makers – to take the necessary steps to connect schools Collect and identify best practices Build political support for the WSIS targets of connecting all schools by 2015

9. Organised by: Hosted by:WSIS Process UNCTAD www.connectaschool.org

10. Organised by: Hosted by:WSIS Process UNCTAD National School Connectivity Plans Set targets and timetables for connecting schools Identify technological solutions Address legal, policy and regulatory measures to connect schools Incorporate digital inclusion policies and practices for marginalized groups

11. Organised by: Hosted by:WSIS Process UNCTAD Raise Awareness Organize events with decision makers Reinforce the WSIS targets for connecting all schools by 2015 Share best practices Encourage adoption of national school connectivity plans to trigger public and private investment in school connectivity

12. Organised by: Hosted by:WSIS Process UNCTAD Partners and Sponsors ITU welcomes partners to contribute to the Toolkit and repository of Training Materials, Applications and tools ITU welcomes sponsors to enable us to assist countries develop national school connectivity plans

13. Organised by: Hosted by:WSIS Process UNCTAD Thank you for your attention Susan Schorr Head, a.i. Special Initiatives Division ITU BDT susan.schorr@itu.int