Bangladesh links with world's ICT education programme
Sunday, 9 September 2007
FE report
The visit of Intel Corporation Chairman Craig R Barrett to Bangladesh last week has ushered a new era in the country's education of information and communication technologies (ICT) with the launch of the company's World Ahead Programme (WAP).
During his one-day visit here on September 4, the Intel chief announced the launching of the WAP and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard. Prof Mohammad Yunus Chairman of Grameen Solution, one of country partners of the WAP, also signed the MoU on behalf of the country.
Intel has been implementing the WAP in 35 countries around the globe and it will run the same here in cooperation with the government and Grameen Solutions to facilitate the use of ICT in providing efficient and cost-effective healthcare for the needy and weaker sections. The aim of the WAP is to promote ICT accessibility, connectivity, education and content.
While launching the WAP, the Intel chief said accessibility, connectivity, education and content are the four pillars and fundamentals for reaping the benefits and accelerating economic development in the present world. He expressed hope that it would help Bangladesh establish e-government and capable in reaping the benefits of ICT.
Barrett is the second high-profile IT personality who visited Bangladesh after Bill Gates of the Microsoft in December 2005. He left the country for India to end his three-day trip to this sub-continent.
The visit by the Intel chief has brought some commitments for the country as he assured Bangladesh of donating approximately 1,000 computers to schools over the next three years under a joint collaboration with the government. The techno evangelist also said his company will donate necessary PCs to set up PC labs in all the 64 districts across Bangladesh.
With support from the Ministry of Education and the Grameen Solutions, Intel has developed plans to launch its education initiatives including the Intel Teach and Intel Learn programmes. The Intel Teach programme trains teachers on how to integrate digital technology in the curriculum to promote classroom learning. The community-based Intel Learn programme cultivates the technology's critical-thinking and collaboration skills in underserved youths of 8-16 years of age.
Under this programme, Intel will also work with software companies in Bangladesh to develop localised internet content and software for the government, schools and telecentres. It will deploy a PC ownership programme that will offer low-cost PCs on easy monthly installments.
Intel has planned to invest over US$ 1.0 billion over the next five years to enhance lives in developing communities by providing access to ICT under its WAP. It will train an additional 10 million teachers during the period on the effective use of digital technology in the classroom. Some 100,000 free PCs will also be provided to classrooms in those communities to improve learning skills under this programme. Intel's education efforts focus on improving teaching and learning through the effective use of technology, and advancing math, science, and engineering education and research.
Intel that produces microprocessors, flash memory, motherboard chipsets, network interface card and blue tooth chipsets, is now working works with education leaders worldwide to showcase technology solutions that support the creation of twenty-first century skills such as digital literacy, problem solving, critical thinking and collaboration. It is enabling underdeveloped communities to experience the benefits of the Internet by increasing the availability of high-speed wireless Internet connectivity under the WAP.
The visit of Intel Corporation Chairman Craig R Barrett to Bangladesh last week has ushered a new era in the country's education of information and communication technologies (ICT) with the launch of the company's World Ahead Programme (WAP).
During his one-day visit here on September 4, the Intel chief announced the launching of the WAP and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard. Prof Mohammad Yunus Chairman of Grameen Solution, one of country partners of the WAP, also signed the MoU on behalf of the country.
Intel has been implementing the WAP in 35 countries around the globe and it will run the same here in cooperation with the government and Grameen Solutions to facilitate the use of ICT in providing efficient and cost-effective healthcare for the needy and weaker sections. The aim of the WAP is to promote ICT accessibility, connectivity, education and content.
While launching the WAP, the Intel chief said accessibility, connectivity, education and content are the four pillars and fundamentals for reaping the benefits and accelerating economic development in the present world. He expressed hope that it would help Bangladesh establish e-government and capable in reaping the benefits of ICT.
Barrett is the second high-profile IT personality who visited Bangladesh after Bill Gates of the Microsoft in December 2005. He left the country for India to end his three-day trip to this sub-continent.
The visit by the Intel chief has brought some commitments for the country as he assured Bangladesh of donating approximately 1,000 computers to schools over the next three years under a joint collaboration with the government. The techno evangelist also said his company will donate necessary PCs to set up PC labs in all the 64 districts across Bangladesh.
With support from the Ministry of Education and the Grameen Solutions, Intel has developed plans to launch its education initiatives including the Intel Teach and Intel Learn programmes. The Intel Teach programme trains teachers on how to integrate digital technology in the curriculum to promote classroom learning. The community-based Intel Learn programme cultivates the technology's critical-thinking and collaboration skills in underserved youths of 8-16 years of age.
Under this programme, Intel will also work with software companies in Bangladesh to develop localised internet content and software for the government, schools and telecentres. It will deploy a PC ownership programme that will offer low-cost PCs on easy monthly installments.
Intel has planned to invest over US$ 1.0 billion over the next five years to enhance lives in developing communities by providing access to ICT under its WAP. It will train an additional 10 million teachers during the period on the effective use of digital technology in the classroom. Some 100,000 free PCs will also be provided to classrooms in those communities to improve learning skills under this programme. Intel's education efforts focus on improving teaching and learning through the effective use of technology, and advancing math, science, and engineering education and research.
Intel that produces microprocessors, flash memory, motherboard chipsets, network interface card and blue tooth chipsets, is now working works with education leaders worldwide to showcase technology solutions that support the creation of twenty-first century skills such as digital literacy, problem solving, critical thinking and collaboration. It is enabling underdeveloped communities to experience the benefits of the Internet by increasing the availability of high-speed wireless Internet connectivity under the WAP.