AKE REVIEW 2009

1. AKE REVIEW 2009 GeSCI Planning Meeting 8 – 12 February 2010

2. ARP/AKE Programme objectives The ARP overall objectives are to: • Provide GeSCI with mechanism and means to impact more countries in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) and to go more in-depth on particular ICT4E issues in a sub-region or in specific country • Build a strategic Knowledge Sharing community to provide platform for regional knowledge sharing and building • Support SSA countries through regional ICT4E policy work focusing on improving access and quality provision of education • Provide strategic advice and technical assistance to regional organisations (e.g. ADEA) on ICT4E matters • Build appropriate partnerships and form collaborations to facilitate the work of its different components.

3. ARP/AKE Components • The ARP is made up of the following components: • Country programmes • Knowledge sharing (African Knowledge Exchange) • Partnerships (e.g. ADEA collaboration) • Expansion and country selection • Post engagement support (e.g. Namibia, Ghana) • Targeted work (with a country or series of countries) on a specific piece of thematic work • Annual/biennial State of ICT4E in SSA publication

4. Outcome Challenge The Programme would like to develop a solid knowledge base for ICT4E for SSA which would lead to better informed policies and plans and more coordinated and integrated efforts to improve the quality of education and access to education. Planning in MoEs is often done in silos and isolation, and a solid knowledge base with the information packaged in accessible and usable formats and disseminated across government units will facilitate interaction and the creation of synergies between units. Units will have an updated knowledge base to draw upon and will become more open for cross-fertilisation of ideas. Both decision makers and technocrats will use the knowledge base as a reference point for their work.

5. Boundary partners • Education and Training Sector policy and decision makers, institutions • Other partners

6. Achievements • Expanded regional knowledge sharing community from 10 – 15 countries (41 participants from 14 countries) • 2 x Country Situational Analyses on State of ICT4E: Kenya and Tanzania • Interministerial Round Tables in Kenya, Tanzania • Review of ICT4E implementation in Namibia (Tech/Na! Review) • GeSCI-Ghana Partnership Review • Support to country programmes • ICT –TPD Framework for Tanzania (not in Plan)

7. Achievements (cont.) • Built relationships between GeSCI and education sectors in Kenya and Tanzania • Country selection tool • Capacity audit tool • TCO tool for e-content development • Regional dialogue on e-content development started (10 countries) • Capacity building and awareness raising

8. Not achieved • VWS improved but still not effective • No interministerial meetings with ECA and other partners • Unable to forge partnership with AAU, UNESCO BREDA, COL • Exploration of KS issues and trends in Africa not done • Some progress on building e-learning knowledge base but not complete • State of ICT4E in SSA Publication not done • KeLC status not clarified

9. Lessons learned • Conceptual and methodological clarity • Disconnect between teams: intention but not reality to work on cross-functional teams • Forging of relationships and partnerships painstaking process • Necessity to understand eco-system • Necessity of capacity building- takes more time • Country situational analyses require time (underestimated time and effort required) • Helps to have tools in place • Regular reviews with proper follow up