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Establishment of the NEPAD e-Schools group of experts in Dakar at e-Learning Africa 2009 | 11 August 2009 |

In accordance with theNEPAD e-Schools Business Plan, it was agreed to establish a Group of Experts. This Group of Experts was set up at the e-Learning Africa 2009 on the 27th May 2009 in Dakar (Senegal) in the preconference workshop.

Made up of 12 members coming from the private sector, Universities, teacher training institutes NGO and international organizations, this panel of experts is a specialized organ that will advise on the activities of the NEPAD e-Schools Initiative.

The meeting was attended by the twelve (12) members of the NEPAD e-Schools Group of Experts, ten (10) observers and the two NEPAD e-Schools Project Managers. Thus, on the 27th May 2009 in Dakar, Mr. Faustin Diatta, the Minister of Senegal, in charge of NEPAD and relations with Parliament, chaired the ceremony of the establishment of the NEPAD e-schools Initiative Group of Experts, in presence of the Deputy Chairperson of NEPAD e-Africa Commission, Dr Henry Chasia.

Dr Henry Chasia presented the NEPAD e-Schools Initiative, the alignment of the initiative with the NEPAD values and Principles. He also indicated that face to the complexity of the project and the necessity to optimize the resources, NEPAD e-Africa Commission decided to establish an advisory technical organ made up of eminent experts.

In his speech, Mr. Diatta considered that “the NEPAD e-Schools Initiative is a flagship activity of the NEPAD e-Africa Commission in particular and of NEPAD in general because it is aimed at integrating our countries in the Information and Economy Society, through knowledge”.

Mr. Faustin Diatta put an emphasis on “transparency and effectiveness of the e-Africa Commission members in the management of this important project”. At the end of his speech, he urged the eminent experts to give technical advises for the implementation of the e-schools initiative, and according to the Minister, these advises should be based on “competence and impartiality’’ in order “to carry out smoothly this mission for Africa.’’.

The discussion focuses on the organization of the NEPAD e-Schools Group of experts and the 2009 Agenda.

It was decided to focus this year in the Professional development. The expert are agree to offer there support about the development of the NEPAD e-Schools Professional Development portfolio and a pedagogical portal.

The next Meeting for the NEPAD e-Schools Group of Expert is scheduled on October 19 2009 in Yaoundé (Cameroon).

The NEPAD e-Africa Commission thanks the parners bellow for there support and/or participation: University of Rouen (France), University of Cheikh Anta Diop (Senegal), University of Nairoby (Kenya), Virginia Tech (USA), SchoolNet Africa, RESAFAD Asso, Agence universitaire de la Francophonie, UNESCO/IICBA,Intel and Microsoft, Oracle.