Initiative for Namibian Education Technology (iNET)

This initiative used interactive, face-to-face exchanges to support dialogue and capacity among educators and government officials in the area of ICTs. Broadly, iNET undertook training activities with college faculty, education planners, and teacher resource centre staff. The project also drew on technology, both by providing hardware to centres, and by engaging participants in online ICT education. As an example of the latter, iNET arranged for participants to enroll in the Harvard Graduate School of Education course "Teaching to Standards with New Technology". As part of that experience, Ministry colleagues began serving as "coaches in training", which will eventually allow them to act as coaches on future Harvard courses.

Policy work/advocacy was another component of the project. iNET worked to support the development of a new national technology in education policy for Namibia, as well as a strategy implementation plan. As a result of these efforts, a draft policy was delivered to both Ministers of education for consideration by cabinet.

More specifically, key communication activities included:

1. Efforts to support improved standards of professional development for MBESC officials (teachers, advisory teachers, principals, inspectors, and regional and head office staff) through expanded and sustained use of ICT. In more detail,
   
   • The capacity and sustainability of computer centres was enhanced by providing CD-ROM capability, print reference, training libraries, and additional workstations. Private sector alliances were developed to allow for cost recovery and long-term sustainability and also promote job creation.
   • MBESC was helped to expand the quality and scope of online professional development and distance learning materials.
   • LearnLink Project innovations were extended to Colleges of Education; pre-service teacher trainings were supported through ICT applications.
2. Structures and support systems were developed to facilitate ongoing policy discussions on effective uses of ICT for education. More specifically,
   
   • Educational policy dialogue was encouraged and supported in order to extend ICT services and applications throughout the education sector.
   • ICT working groups were supported to help coordinate Ministry ICT initiatives.
   • Support was provided for the development of innovative uses of ICT to help mitigate the impacts of HIV/AIDS on the education sector in Namibia.
   • A feasibility study was undertaken to determine the appropriateness of developing a technical high school, as proposed by the National Institute for Educational Development.
3. Efforts were made to improve MBESC policy and planning through decentralisation of the Ministry's Education and Management and Information System (EMIS) to all regional education offices as well as to all circuit offices within BES supported regions. For instance, iNET undertook steps to:
   
   • Develop an ICT network, with the aim of providing increased access to and more efficient use of communication tools and educational data made available online and via the Ministry's EMIS.
   • Enhance networks and internet access in Regional Education offices of the MBESC, to the end of improving communication and supporting decentralisation.

Technology, Education.

INET follows from U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)/Namibia's previous ICT support to MBESC in the establishment of physical, online, and human resources within the Ministry as well as policy development in relation to ICT, education, and training. INET builds on previous activities and draws on the cross-sectoral benefits of ICT in the Namibian education sector.