Elhadin , Egypt , 11 February 2007, In the framework of a series of initiatives led by HP and Oracle, Dr. Youssry Al-Gamal –Minister of Education accompanied by General Mohammed Sharawy, Governor of Behira, Eng. Ahmed Samy - Managing Director of HP Egypt and Eng. Hussein Al-Gueretly -Country Manager of ORACLE Egypt launched the pilot project for NEPAD e-schools in Elhadin secondary school at El-Behira Governorate. The project is a joint venture of the Egyptian Government, HP Consortium, ORACLE Consortium and NEPAD e-Africa Commission.
Egypt is the sixth African country and the first Arab and North African country to launch the project, with a focus on providing end-to-end ICT solutions that will connect schools across Africa to the NEPAD e-Schools Network and the Internet. Solutions also include the provision of content, learning material and the establishment of health points at schools.
Many top Egyptian officials, representatives from the private sector and the NEPAD African e-commission, participating companies, local and executive leaderships from El-Behira Governorate and a conglomeration of media people attended the launch.
Eng. Ahmed Samy, Managing Director of HP Egypt stated: “In collaboration with its partners, HP has participated in this project to develop the educational sector in Egypt. HP has supplied 3 computers labs in 3 schools in Al-Dakahlia, Sohag and El-Behira governorates with the latest state of art technology including desktop, laptops, computer servers, wireless network, smart boards in addition to the internet via the satellite.
Samy added that the project also aims at training teachers to make them capable of integrating and using information technology in their classrooms as a teaching tool, in addition to managing time in administrating classes and schools.
On the other hand, Anil Gandhi, General Manager of Personal Systems Group at HP Middle East clarified that the ambitious project aims at transforming all African secondary schools into e-schools within 5 years of implementation start date and transforming all African primary schools within 10 years of implementation start date. In total, more than 600000 schools across the African continent will enjoy the benefits of information technology and communications (ICT) as well as their connectivity to the NEPAD e-schools satellite network upon completion of the project.
Within this context, Dr. Henry Chasia, Executive Deputy Chairperson of the NEPAD e-African commission commented: “ the demo project intends to provide a learning mechanism, based on real-life experiences of implementing ICTs in schools across Africa, whereby the Egyptian experience is vital in achieving these objectives.”
Moreover, Eng. Hussein El Gueretly, Country Manager, Oracle Egypt, expressed his happiness for contributing to the NEPAD e-Schools initiative by saying, “We at Oracle are very proud to be part of this great project which will ensure a better future for youth of Egypt and the region. We are looking forward to working with the governments of the region and our colleagues in the IT industry to expand this project in order to bring about the kind of change and progress this region and its people deserve.”
Alkan communications, being a leading regional service provider & system integrator announced its full support to this initiative by providing for the first time in Egypt internet services via Satellite over wireless networks at Egyptian schools through easy to configure substituting solution, which is ideal for areas lacking earth phone-lines.
Similarly, “GIMPEX” has announced its support to this initiative through the donation of up to 120 SMART Board(TM) interactive whiteboards. The SMART Board interactive whiteboard will play a key role in African classrooms by providing an interactive learning environment for students and teachers, and facilitating distance collaboration across the continent.
Several African countries participated in this pilot project among which are: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, guinea, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda in addition to Arab republic of Egypt, being one of the most important destinations enjoying the interest of many Egyptian and international companies.
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For more information about the event, please contact:
- Samuel Mikenga : (NEPAD ) Tel: +27 72 529 6769 ) Email : smikenga@eafricacommission.org ; s.mikenga@paris.com
- Yasmine Abou Hussein, Hewlett-Packard Tel: +2025364622 ; Email : yasmine.abouhussein@hp.com
- Heba El Wardany (ORACLE Corporation )Tel: +202 456 3290Email : Heba.wardany@oracle.com
- Osama Elsaid (Egyptian Government )Tel: +2012 4735999 (mobile); +202 795 9893 (desk )Email : infosys@mail.emoe.org ; oelbaz@mail.emoe.org
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