tent>
New Initiative to bridge education divide with the developing world
The Prime Minister will today announce a major new initiative to help bridge the growing education divide between the world’s rich and poor countries.
The project - backed by internet giants Cisco Systems - will explore how the new technologies can improve education through better teacher training, raising skill levels and sharing knowledge particularly in Africa.
The project, endorsed by the World Bank, and led by the Department for International Development (DFID) will make detailed, costed proposals in time for a Commonwealth Education Minister’s meeting in November.
Announcing the initiative this morning at a meeting with John Chambers President and CEO of Cisco Systems, the Prime Minister said:
“Education holds the key to tackling poverty and extending opportunity in the developing world. The new technologies have great potential to aid the effort to spread education.
“However, there is a real danger of a digital divide opening between rich and poor countries. We can’t let that happen if we are to meet our goal of universal primary education by 2015.
“That is why this project, backed by the expertise of Cisco Systems, is so important. It will build on the strong foundations of our existing £800 million programme to bridge the education divide.
The Prime Minister will meet the British Overseas Aid Group on Tuesday to discuss the way forward to Dakar.
John Chambers, President and CEO of Cisco Systems, said:
“Whether you live in Silicon Valley, Manchester or Sub-Saharan Africa, education and the Internet are the great equalizers in life. It’s critical that we use emerging technology to create an Internet gateway so that no one is left out of the Internet Revolution. Cisco is honoured to partner the UK government to help build an Internet Century of global opportunity for citizens of all countries.”
Jim Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank, said:
“This is an important initiative, critical in improving education for poor people in developing countries and enabling broader participation in the global, information based economy. The effort to stimulate a genuine public-private partnership adds another essential dimension to overcoming the global digital divide”.
27th March 2000
Notes to Editors:
1. The DFID team will be led by Owen Barder, Economic Affairs Private Secretary to the Prime Minister. It will bring together the Government, charities and businesses involved in IT, broadcasting and publishing.
2. The World Education Forum in Dakar, Senegal will take place on 26 - 28 April.
3. DFID has increased its commitment to primary education in developing countries by £500 million from £300m to £800m over the last three years.
Links:
delicious
digg
facebook
