Fifth eLearning Africa conference 2010 brings together ministers and senior officials from nine African countries
Berlin, Germany, Lusaka, Zambia. Zambia's capital will host a gathering of some of Africa's top educational decision-makers on May 26th at eLearning Africa. The largest pan-African conference on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for development, education and training will be held from May 26th - 28th in Lusaka.
The Round Table, entitled "Leading for change in ICTs in education", will see Ministers and senior policy advisers from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Equatorial Guinea and Zambia discuss how ICTs can foster capacity development in African education systems. Zambia's Minister of Education, the Honourable Ms Dora Siliya, will open the event.
African governments often face similar problems with the implementation of ICT and education programmes at a local level. Obstacles can include the bureaucratic structures of institutions, scarce resources and a lack of leadership strategies to harness the opportunities brought by ICT.
The high-level Round Table will enhance inter-African Ministerial collaboration on national, sub-regional and continental programmes on ICT enhanced education. eLearning is seen as one of the most important development accelerators by the majority of African administrations. National ICT strategies therefore, focus on issues such as access to ICTs, equipping institutions with the most appropriate software and hardware, as well as curricula development, fostering digital literacy and the provision of initial teacher training.
The politicians, who will be joined by representatives from major development agencies, will discuss how the private sector and development partners can support national educational reform programmes, with a focus on the take-up of relevant education technologies in Africa. The deliverables from the Round Table will include policy briefs and insights as well as a comprehensive communiqué.
Hosts of the Round Table are the Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative (GeSCI), the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) and International Conferences, Workshops and Exhibitions GmbH (ICWE). Microsoft is the event's sponsor.
eLearning Africa is the largest pan-African conference on ICTs for education and training. It is a key networking event for education professionals, investors and providers of education and training in Africa.
More than 1500 delegates from around the world are expected at this year's eLearning Africa. The Conference is held in English and French. It will be opened by the President of the Republic of Zambia, His Excellency Rupiah Bwezani Banda.
More information at www.elearning-africa.com
Notes for Editors
eLearning Africa, 5th International Conference on ICT for Development, Education and Training
May 26–28, 2010
Mulungushi International Conference Center, Lusaka, Zambia
Organisers: ICWE GmbH, www.icwe.net
Contact: ICWE GmbH, info@elearning-africa.com, www.eLearning-africa.com
Tel.: +49 (0)30 310 18 18-0
Press Contact
ICWE GmbH
Ms Beate Kleessen & Franziska Steiger
Tel.: +49 (0)30 310 18 18-0, press-service@icwe.net
Press releases
http://www.elearning-africa.com/press_release.php
Photographs
http://www.elearning-africa.com/press_gallery.php
GeSCI
The Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative (GeSCI) is an international organisation based in Nairobi, Kenya. GeSCI was founded by the United Nations ICT Taskforce in 2003 and is funded by the governments of Sweden, Switzerland, Finland and Ireland. GeSCI was developed from the conviction that proper and effective use of ICTs broadens access to education and training and includes the most disenfranchised people, previously considered beyond the reach of the classroom. GeSCI works with education ministries in developing countries, helping them to take strategic decisions about ICTs in education and human resource development.
www.gesci.org
IICD
The International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) is a non-profit foundation that specialises in ICT as a tool for development. IICD creates practical and sustainable solutions using both modern media (such as computers, Internet, email and multimedia) and traditional media (such as radio and television) to connect people and enable them to benefit from ICT, thereby contributing to the Millennium Development Goals.
www.iicd.org
ICWE
As specialists in the fields of eLearning, higher education and language training, ICWE organises a range of international conferences and exhibitions, each leading in their field. Our events cater to organisations, institutions and individuals interested in acquiring or disseminating information, developing business and fostering international partnerships.
www.icwe.net