The State of Eritrea Ministry of Education National Policy for ICT in Education in Eritrea July 2005 In telecommunications, the extension of mobile telephone services is growing rapidly. Its importance and utility is illustrated by growing demand. Expansion of fixed and mobile telephone services coupled with narrow and broadband Internet access through satellite linkup, which is principally aimed at enhancing information services for education and students, are additional communications projects the government is pursuing vigorously. Remarks by H.E. Isaias Afewerki, President of the State of Eritrea, on the occasion of the 14 th Independence Day Anniversary, May 24, 2005 ii List of Acronyms AME – Department of Adult and Media Education AUP – Acceptable Use Policy DGE – Department of General Education DVD – Digital Video Disks EMIS – Educational Management of Information Systems ESDP – Education Sector Development Project FM – Frequency Modulation FOSS – Free Open Source Software HIV/AIDS – Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ICT – Information and Communication Technology ISP – Internet Service Provider LAN – Local Area Network M&E – Monitoring and Evaluation MoE – Ministry of Education NUP – Network Use Policy PMU – Project Management Unit POP – Point of Presence R&D – Research and Development RHRD – Department of Research and Human Resource Development SIE – Society of Innovative Educators TEVT – Department of Technical Education and Vocational Training UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization VSAT – Very Small Aperture Terminals WAN – Wide Area Network iii Table of Contents 1 Introduction..........................................................................................................1 1.1 Background....................................................................................................1 1.2 Vision for ICT in Eritrea................................................................................2 1.2.1 Global Commitment...............................................................................2 1.2.2 Millennium Development Goals............................................................2 1.2.3 Access & Basic ICT Literacy ................................................................2 1.2.4 ICT as an Economic Industry ................................................................2 1.3 Vision for ICT in Education ..........................................................................3 1.3.1 ICT as a Teaching and Learning Tool ...................................................3 1.3.2 ICT for Management of Information .....................................................3 1.3.3 ICT for Human Resource Development ................................................3 1.4 Policy Context................................................................................................3 1.4.1 Macro-Policy – 1994..............................................................................3 1.4.2 “Concept Paper” – 2002.........................................................................4 1.4.3 Eritrea: National Education Policy (Draft) – 2003 ................................4 1.5 Education in Eritrea .......................................................................................5 1.5.1 Historical Context of Education in Eritrea.............................................5 1.5.2 Defining Principles of Education in Eritrea...........................................5 1.6 Overview of Reform ......................................................................................6 1.6.1 Access – Basic Education......................................................................6 1.6.2 Modernization – Secondary Education..................................................6 1.6.3 Equity – Sector Wide.............................................................................6 1.6.4 Literacy – Adult Education....................................................................7 2 Approach to the Policy ........................................................................................8 2.1 Sector-wide Approach ...................................................................................8 2.2 Priorities.........................................................................................................8 2.3 Inter-Ministerial Discourse ............................................................................8 2.4 Collaborative..................................................................................................8 2.5 Best Practices.................................................................................................8 2.6 Emphasis on Teaching and Learning.............................................................9 3 Priorities for ICT in Education for Eritrea.....................................................10 3.1 ICT in Secondary and Technical Schools....................................................10 3.2 Training of Master Trainers.........................................................................10 3.3 Ministry of Education Local and Wide Area Network................................10 3.4 ICT-related Staff Development at All Levels..............................................10 3.5 Establishment of a National ICT Steering Committee ................................10 4 National Policy for ICT in Education ..............................................................11 4.1 Policy Goals.................................................................................................11 4.2 Presidential Articulation of National ICT Vision & Goals..........................11 4.3 Ministerial Articulation of ICT in Education Vision & Goals ....................11 4.4 Designation of National ICT Steering Committee.......................................12 4.5 Review of National Communications Proclamation....................................12 4.6 Alignment with National ICT Policy...........................................................13 4.7 Establishment of an ICT Unit ......................................................................13 4.8 Public Awareness Program..........................................................................14 4.9 Development of Departmental ICT Terms of Reference.............................14 4.10 Establishment of a MoE ICT Steering Committee ......................................15 4.11 Establishment of ICT Infrastructure for the Ministry..................................16 4.11.1 Establishment of a Ministry-wide Network.........................................16 iv 4.11.2 Security and Virus Protection..............................................................16 4.11.3 Establishment of a Software Policy.....................................................17 4.11.4 Employee Email...................................................................................17 4.11.5 Establishment of a Network Use Policy (NUP)...................................18 4.11.6 Establishment of an MoE Website.......................................................18 4.11.7 Ministry ICT Training Facilities..........................................................19 4.12 Multimedia Development Center.................................................................19 4.13 Human Capacity Development....................................................................20 4.13.1 Regulation and Financing ....................................................................20 4.13.2 Ministry of Education Staff .................................................................21 4.13.3 Teacher Training..................................................................................22 4.13.4 Staff Performance Appraisal and Advancement..................................23 4.13.5 Formal Education.................................................................................23 4.13.6 Non-formal Education .........................................................................24 4.14 Regional and Sub-regional Offices..............................................................24 4.14.1 Network Infrastructure.........................................................................24 4.14.2 Establishment of Regional ICT Unit....................................................24 4.14.3 Regional MoE Staff Development.......................................................25 4.15 Curriculum and National Examination ........................................................26 4.15.1 Establishment of an ICT Panel at the DGE .........................................26 4.15.2 National Curriculum Reform ...............................................................26 4.15.3 Basic ICT Literacy Curriculum ...........................................................27 4.15.4 ICT as a Teaching and Learning Tool .................................................27 4.15.5 Revision of Assessment Procedures & Examinations .........................28 4.16 ICT in Schools .............................................................................................28 4.16.1 School Vision and Plan........................................................................28 4.16.2 ICT Coordinator...................................................................................29 4.16.3 School Technology Committee............................................................29 4.16.4 Community Engagement .....................................................................30 4.16.5 School Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) .................................................30