Subject: Partners for Internet in Education, Ghana
A Schools-Community-Private Sector Collaborative Initiative
Introduction
The Partners for Internet in Education is a non-profit membership
association formed in February 1997, with some initial assistance from
the USAID's Leland Initiative, to bring together schools, companies,
organizations, and individuals interested in promoting and using the
Internet and computers to enhance teaching and learning in schools.
Mission Statement
To become a catalyst for the popularisation of the use of the computer
and Internet in education as a means of widening the scope of both
teachers and students to the rapidly advancing world of technology.
Key Objectives
To forge links between schools, organisations and individuals in Ghana
who are interested in promoting the use of the computer and Internet in
education.
To help advance the use of the computer and Internet in education.
To influence educational policy in favour of Computer and Internet use
in education.
To set circular goals in connection with Internet use.
To foster School-to-School partnerships.
To foster relationships between PIE and similar associations in other
countries.
To acquire the funds and necessary resources for promoting the use of
the Internet in schools.
Membership & Subscriptions
Membership of PIE is open to any schools, organization, company or
individual with an interest in the Internet & Information Technology and
their impact on and applicability to education.
Members' General Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month
to deliberate upon issues concerning PIE. Project Meetings are also
held.
Quarterly dues are collected to help finance PIE programmes.
Working Committees of PIE
Executive Committee: Responsible for representing PIE
Partnerships Committee: Responsible for helping to create joint projects
among member schools and with other school in and outside Ghana
Liaisons Committee: Responsible for forging relationships with other
organizations
Membership Committee: Responsible for recruiting and tracking PIE
membership and handling membership related issues.
Funding and Resource Committee: Responsible for raising financial and in
kind resources
Information Resources Committee: Responsible for identifying and
introducing educational resources on the Internet relevant to PIE
members' needs.
Activities and Programmes
PIE organises basic training programs for those of its members who need
brushing tip of their computer skills. In addition, PIE intends to
facilitate, through the Community Learning Centres (CLC), further
development of capacity within member schools through organisation and
implementation of Training Programmes and Workshops for teachers and
students on Web Page design, Project design and grant sponsorships,
Internet training and also Technical Networking and Support training.
PIE members are also to pursue their own Internet related activities
based on their resources and level of student & teacher capabilities. To
this end, several projects are underway in member schools and
institutions. Projects implemented by members are currently also
demonstrated to other members through the Monthly Project Speaker Series
that was introduced at the end of 1998.
Community Learning Centres
PIE has, in strategic partnership with the Ghana Library Board, opened
the Accra Community Learning Centre (CLC) equipped with computers and
with full access to the Internet to advance and support learning
resources for teachers and students in Basic, 2nd Cycle and the
professional training institutions, for free or at subsidised rates,
depending on need or academic focus.
The Accra CLC also plans to meet the information technology needs of
researchers, the small scale business community in and around central
Accra, the traditional authorities at Osu, James Town and Bukom among
others. We intend to vigorously promote computer literacy at all levels
using the Centre as a demonstration Laboratory.
Basic and advanced courses in computer literacy and Internet usage will
be offered at subsidised fees.
The Accra Community Learning Centre further articulates PIE's vision to
be a serious complementing factor in the Ghanaian educational sector as
shown in the CLC's mission statement: To foster the goals of PIE
through sustained community service via provision of affordable learning
resources and access to information and communications technology to
schools, in particular.
Bridging the gap by providing cheap access to IT resources is a prime
motivating factor behind PIE's efforts.
PIE's priority is to open or collaborate in the establishment of as many
CLCs as possible over the next few years in various parts of Ghana.
PIE is seeking more partnerships to assist in fulfilling its Goal. We
work best together!!! There is so much to do for this country! Join Us
Today!!
PIE-CLC Special Heritage Project
PIE intends that its members and supporters actively apply information
technology to enhancing the everyday life concepts of the Ghanaian
Community. Accordingly, PIE intends to vigorously pursue an application
based learning approach where members and their students select projects
which would offer the most learning opportunity whilst using information
technology as a tool.
This way, PIE believes that the older generation (who may see
themselves as "out of place" with the emerging technologies) can still
contribute content whilst the tools and application methodology comes
from resources provided by members or by the CLC.
In consonance with the above, the CLC intends to embark on community
based heritage projects where tools and human resource skills available
at the Centre are placed at the disposal of the community for the
development of the public good.
For example, two projects which the CLC would in January 2000 embark
upon, subject to endorsement of concept by the traditional authorities,
would be the "James Town Heritage Project" and the "James Town Beach
Fisherfolklore Project " both of which would be computerised multimedia
archives of the James Town traditional culture and heritage comprising
photographs, documents, oral history and anecdotes as well as language,
customary practices. The final output would be available on CD-ROM and
other media to be agreed upon.
PIE Officers
Eric N. Yankah, President
Sammy Adjepong, Vice & Coordinator, Programmes
(Alpha Beta Educational Centres, Accra)
Mrs Faustina Forson, Treasurer
(St Martins des Porres School, Accra)
B.B. Grant, Secretary
(St Martins des Porres School, Accra)
Member Schools & Institutions
PIE presently has over 25 members schools and institutions. There are
Basic, 2nd cycle and Tertiary institutional members from both the
private and public sectors.
PIE has members in Accra, Cape Coast, Koforidua, Kumasi, Techiman and
Wenchi and we are still growing. Ghana needs the work of PIE. You do
too!!
You CAN Support PIE's Work!!!
We need those machines you have, including working but "non-Y2K"
compliant computers to facilitate the training programmes at our
Community Learning Centres. We would welcome your financial assistance
to support our outreach programmes in the Schools and also to subsidise
student participation in the centres We also need educational software,
books, new machines and peripherals to support our Member Schools and
our subsidised teaching and training programmes. Contact us today!!!!
Visit our "baby" website
http://members.xoom.com/pieghana
Join our Electronic Mailing List
pieghana@egroups.com
The PIE Secretariat
c/o Ghana Library Board,
High Street, Accra. Ghana
Tel: 233-21-672699
http://members.xoom.com/pieghana
Contact Email Addresses
PIE CLC & Secretariat <
Eric N. Yankah
Sam Adjepong
BB Grant
Eric N. Yankah
enyankah@ghana.com
http://ericyankah.tripod.com
P.O.Box MB163,
Accra Ghana
private direct fax: (561)594-8306
(USA number)
Knowledge Share with a Public Spirit and a Touch of Technology is
something you cannot beat anywhere in the world!!!
MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!! GET ON BOARD THE DISTANCE LEARNING TRAIL
AND TEACH SOMEONE SOMEWHERE SOMETHING USABLE AND POSITIVE TODAY!!!