[WSIS Edu] SDNP School Program in Bangladesh

[Hakikur Rahman]

SDNP School Program in Bangladesh


Objective

To assist the SDNP (Sustainable Development Networking Programme) School 
Programme of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for extending 
computer education at school level and develop skilled human resources that 
would gradually lead to Bangladesh’s competitiveness in the global ICT 
sector.

Background

SDNP has successfully distributed 120 computers (from the first consignment 
of 400 computers in 2002), and 28 computers (from the second consignment of 
200 computers in 2003) donated by the World Computer Exchange (WCE) in 
Bangladeshi schools since 2002. This initiative has provided basic hands on 
training on fundamental of computer applications to thousands of students 
in rural areas of Bangladesh. The schools were selected as per the 
selection criteria given by the WCE.

During the first shipment, the partners were

·       WCE (World Computers Exchange, 
http://www.worldcomputerexchange.org): provided the donated computers;
·       UNDP (United Nations Development Programme): provided partial 
funding and necessary logistic support to bring the computers in Bangladesh 
as the Consignee;
·       USAID (United States Agency for International Development): 
provided major funding for the programme to support the administrative 
costs at WCE;
·       FED (Foundation for Education and Development): provided the role 
of the lead NGO, handled the currency transfer, support to other NGO 
partners of FED;
·       ISOC (Internet Society, http://www.isocbd.org) Bangladesh Chapter: 
provided support in selecting a few local schools;
·       ICMS (Institute of Computer Management and Science, 
http://www.icmsbd.org): provided free training to the teachers of the 
selected school; and
·       SDNP (Sustainable Development Networking Programme of Bangladesh, 
http://www.sdnbd.org) selected the schools as per the selection criteria, 
provided technical assistance, and distributed the donated computers to the 
selected schools.

In the first consignment, among the 400 PCs, 200 were given to SDNP and 
from that 120 were distributed to 68 schools. In the second consignment 200 
computers were brought under the direct guidance of FED with funding 
support from USAID. From the second consignment, about 28 computers were 
received by SDNP.

In the first consignment, SDNP selected schools paid a lump sum of 
BDT3000.00 (Taka three thousand) only to cover local expenses, and all the 
amount were directly submitted to FED, who handled the financial 
transactions. Similarly, an amount of BDT 4700.00 (Taka four thousand and 
five hundred) only were being paid by the schools to FED for each computer 
in the second consignment.

For the third consignment, with total financial support from USAID, an 
amount of BDT1500.00 (Taka one thousand and five hundred) only for each 
computer is being requested and collected through SDNP to cover local 
logistic supports. UNDP Bangladesh being the consignee provided all 
necessary logistic supports in bringing the computers in Bangladesh. Among 
other partners, ICMS is providing free training to the teachers. The 
training of teachers has been launched in phases from August 20, 2005 and 
till date about 30 schools has obtained computers from the third consignment.

Role of each partners

The World Computer Exchange, Inc. (WCE) of USA, which works for bridging 
the digital divide for youth, collects donated computer in the USA and 
distributes them to the third world countries.

USAID Bangladesh has active interest in promoting the Information 
Communication Technology (ICT) sector in the country. Several studies (e.g. 
Information Technology Enabled Services Sector study sponsored by USAID 
Bangladesh) clearly identified the lack of skilled human resources is a 
critical factor for the growth of ICT sector. This type of initiative is 
the right kind of step that will widen computer education at rural level.

UNDP Bangladesh as the Consignee eased up the processes of bringing in used 
and donated computers in Bangladesh, and SDNP as a UNDP funded project has 
find it as extremely valuable to carry out its mandate for sustainable 
development in the country.

At the same time, being a project under the SEMP (Sustainable Environment 
Management Programme), this programme obtained necessary administrative 
assistance from the government authority.

ICMS is providing necessary training to the teachers at free of costs 
throughout the whole programme.

SDNP is selecting the schools as per the selection criteria of WCE, 
distributing the computers as per the implementation plan, providing 
necessary technical assistance to each school including the lead schools, 
that have been established to support the local schools.

Partnership approach

SDNP has signed a separate MoU with Schools Online programme of Relief 
International (http://www.connect-bangladesh.org) for running partnership 
programmes of similar interests, and under this MoU one of the South-West 
lead school in Jessore has been upgraded to Internet Learning Center.

Future perspectives

SDNP is looking forward to establish Internet connectivity to each 
available school under this programme, so that they can avail the content 
service from SDNP's different servers located throughout the country 
(Dhaka, Mymensingh, Cox's Bazar, Satkhira, and Dinajpur), including the 
multipurpose village information centres's support run by SDNP. Utilization 
of the available information backbone for telemedicine, environmental 
protection, disaster management, and e-learning at school level would be 
the future focus of this programme.

Hakikur Rahman
Project Coordinator
SDNP Bangladesh.

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