Three Emblems One Goal... “Bridging The Digital Divide Through Education”
Monday, 1st February 2010
K-12 teachers getting free computer training
Photo Credit:
Photo Credit:
In today’s fast globalizing world, the need for computer literacy is
inevitable especially for the educational system. Liberia as a
developing nation is no exception to this reality. A nation just
recovering from fifteen years of civil war which have plunged it into a
memorial past that has placed it in the shadow of development. The
education system is gradually emerging but unlikely to be on the right
path in terms of Information Communication Technology (ICT).
The government eight counts Poverty Reduction Strategy is a clear manifestation of the emerging need to rehabilitate and revitalized the entire system including the educational environment. In furtherance of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG), iEARN-Liberia in collaboration with Technology Empowerment Network (TEN) and the Global Teenager Project has initiated the following programs to help Teachers Bridge the digital divide through education.
Computer Education to Enhance Learning (CEEL) - CEEL is a free computer Literacy training in Microsoft Window, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Power point and Internet. This program targets K-12 teachers as the primary beneficiaries. The program is an iEARN-Liberia initiative under the three emblem one goal collaboration (iEARN-Liberia, Global Teenager Project, and Technology Empowerment Network). TEN is the technical partner of the program while GTP and iEARN is the direct implementing arm. CEEL project is a self initiative with no external funding or financial support, but the implementers are strongly committed to the success of the program. We hope to have funding support for more computers, electric power supply and internet connectivity to have a greater impact and affect teachers throughout the length and breadth of Liberia.
Junk computers to Enhance Learning is the primary project to support our program. The price of a used Personal Computer (PC) is too high and unaffordable in post war Liberia. Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Liberia is unachievable without PCs and the technical knowledge. This project is an open request for junk computers from government Agency, International Organization, Nongovernmental Organization and the general Public to be refurbished to enhance Computer Literacy for education. The program is a proven success as evidence of our current ten PCs which were refurbished from 19 Junk Computers received.
We are confident that CEEL program will make a difference in our Education System, it will support our teachers and gave them the require skills to bridge the digital divide and meet the challenges of ICT in today fast globalizing world. We envision the days where the percentage of teachers with computer literacy, email address and participation in online project base learning and learning circle will be high superseding the current 90% computer illiteracy rate. The program also has a vision of decentralization where TEN will power PCs using solar power systems. With the solar power systems teachers in rural Liberia would have access to free computer literacy training and be technically equipped to maintain the PCs and the solar power systems. The outcome of this program will make the MDGs a reality in Liberia supporting better and equal opportunity for all regardless of social and economic status or geographical limitation.
The government eight counts Poverty Reduction Strategy is a clear manifestation of the emerging need to rehabilitate and revitalized the entire system including the educational environment. In furtherance of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG), iEARN-Liberia in collaboration with Technology Empowerment Network (TEN) and the Global Teenager Project has initiated the following programs to help Teachers Bridge the digital divide through education.
Computer Education to Enhance Learning (CEEL) - CEEL is a free computer Literacy training in Microsoft Window, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Power point and Internet. This program targets K-12 teachers as the primary beneficiaries. The program is an iEARN-Liberia initiative under the three emblem one goal collaboration (iEARN-Liberia, Global Teenager Project, and Technology Empowerment Network). TEN is the technical partner of the program while GTP and iEARN is the direct implementing arm. CEEL project is a self initiative with no external funding or financial support, but the implementers are strongly committed to the success of the program. We hope to have funding support for more computers, electric power supply and internet connectivity to have a greater impact and affect teachers throughout the length and breadth of Liberia.
Junk computers to Enhance Learning is the primary project to support our program. The price of a used Personal Computer (PC) is too high and unaffordable in post war Liberia. Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Liberia is unachievable without PCs and the technical knowledge. This project is an open request for junk computers from government Agency, International Organization, Nongovernmental Organization and the general Public to be refurbished to enhance Computer Literacy for education. The program is a proven success as evidence of our current ten PCs which were refurbished from 19 Junk Computers received.
We are confident that CEEL program will make a difference in our Education System, it will support our teachers and gave them the require skills to bridge the digital divide and meet the challenges of ICT in today fast globalizing world. We envision the days where the percentage of teachers with computer literacy, email address and participation in online project base learning and learning circle will be high superseding the current 90% computer illiteracy rate. The program also has a vision of decentralization where TEN will power PCs using solar power systems. With the solar power systems teachers in rural Liberia would have access to free computer literacy training and be technically equipped to maintain the PCs and the solar power systems. The outcome of this program will make the MDGs a reality in Liberia supporting better and equal opportunity for all regardless of social and economic status or geographical limitation.