ICT programme launched

THE Pathfinder project, which provides students with learning centres for technology education, was officially launched on Tuesday, falling in line with the Namibia Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Policy launched by Prime Minister Nahas Angula in Windhoek on Tuesday.

The launch and handover of Pathfinder – a project run by the Government and Microsoft – also marked the end of a pilot project that was started two years ago to pave way to a new approach of providing Namibian schools and communities with access to technology and computer-related training, aimed at bridging the digital gap. The joint initiative comprises a broad range of programmes which, together, enable information and communication technology (ICT) to be procured and put to use for Namibia and also for the African society.The Pathfinder equipped 13 pilot schools in Namibia with technological infrastructure, telecommunications, teacher-training programmes and innovative software solutions.Now complete, the initiative has been handed over to the Ministry of Education and will be owned and operated by the Government.Speaking at the launch, the Microsoft CEO for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Jean-Phillipe Courtois, said the Pathfinder initiative was important in schools because of the positive impact technology could create in education.”By partnering closely with the Namibian Government, Microsoft’s technology is now serving the teachers and students and that knowledge can be applied to other countries in helping to bridge the digital divide.”Speaker of Parliament Theo-Ben Gurirab said in his keynote address that Africa was lagging behind in socio-economic development compared to the rest of the world and it was time to catch up.The joint initiative comprises a broad range of programmes which, together, enable information and communication technology (ICT) to be procured and put to use for Namibia and also for the African society.The Pathfinder equipped 13 pilot schools in Namibia with technological infrastructure, telecommunications, teacher-training programmes and innovative software solutions.Now complete, the initiative has been handed over to the Ministry of Education and will be owned and operated by the Government.Speaking at the launch, the Microsoft CEO for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Jean-Phillipe Courtois, said the Pathfinder initiative was important in schools because of the positive impact technology could create in education.”By partnering closely with the Namibian Government, Microsoft’s technology is now serving the teachers and students and that knowledge can be applied to other countries in helping to bridge the digital divide.”Speaker of Parliament Theo-Ben Gurirab said in his keynote address that Africa was lagging behind in socio-economic development compared to the rest of the world and it was time to catch up.