SchoolNet Africa (SNA) - Africa

SchoolNetAfrica aims to:

• Connect African schools to the Internet;
• Enable people to lead and develop national schoolnets;
• Pilot the development of online curriculum;
• Create a knowledge warehouse;
• Promote the development of world-class learners through its ThinkQuest Africa competition; and
• Lobby and advocate for cheap Internet access for schools in Africa.

Development Issues
Education, Technology.

In November, 2001 SNA hosted an official launch in Johannesburg, South Africa. The launch called for partnerships with the private sector and will appeal for pledges of support. Headquartered in South Africa and governed by a 12-member Steering Committee representing 10 countries from all five sub-regions across the continent, including a representative from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, SchoolNetAfrica will kick off a number of flagship projects under the banner of "OPERATION DOT LEARN". SNA is represented by 10 countries from the five sub-regions of the continent, and a representative from the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). SchoolNet Africa will work in partnership with national school networks to programme at the continental level.

National schoolnets have established partnerships with government ministries of education and telecommunications, the private sector, and NGOs at national level. Its A-team Steering Committee has forged partnerships with major donor and development agencies such as the Open Society Institute for Southern Africa, the International Development Research Centre, the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the UNESCO.