World Links / Peace Corps The Gambia POA

Introduction

This protocol of agreement is meant to pool the resources of World Links and Peace Corps/The Gambia to maximize synergies for educational technology to assist DOSE establish computer labs and incorporate ICT in the Gambian school curriculum. The main trust of the collaboration will center on the development, management and maintenance of computer labs, training related to computer literacy and ICT access in schools. Utilizing ICT for e-learning purposes to improve the quality of teaching and learning will also be focussed on in our collaboration. The responsibility for the acquisition of computers, their installation, networking and ensuring access to the Internet will mainly be borne by DOSE. When and where necessary, the parties (World Links and Peace Corps/The Gambia) will collaborate with other institutions and organizations, such as Action Aid, FAWEGAM, the Women's Bureau, the Center for Educational Technology and YMCA amongst others.

Goals and Objectives

Goal:-

To promote closer collaboration between Peace Corps/The Gambia and World Links and the involvement of Peace Corps Volunteers to assist DOSE meet its policy objectives to introduce ICT in Gambian schools to enhance the quality of education.

Objectives:-

1. Establish 18 Computer labs in senior secondary schools with Internet Connectivity.
2. Develop national ICT curriculum and train teachers on its use.
3. Train on the integration of ICT into the school curriculum.
4. Provide ICT Training for Teachers and Students, especially Girls on literacy, Internet use, trouble shooting and lab maintenance and management. Trainings will be targeted to specific groups based on needs. Fieldworkers and Community Members also need to receive training as the program expands.
5. Use labs in the evenings to raise funds using the "Telecenter" concept.
6. Communities should be able to have access to ICT either through the school labs or by setting up their own labs through other projects like INFUNDO or ACTION AID.

Roles and Responsibilities:-

Peace Corps/The Gambia:-

To participate through the Associate Peace Corps Director-Education and identified Education Volunteers in the planning, development and implementation of the World Links' project activities in schools. Coordinating meetings, exchanges with PCVs, DOSE and other staff - involved from grassroots level as well as higher level e.g. Peace Corps/Washington and World Links/Washington, regional and within Senegambia will also be part of the process.

Qualified Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) will be identified, recruited, and matched to Gambian needs. The strong focus of PCV ICT work in education will be on human resource development, hard ware installation/maintenance, software use/application, curriculum development as well as implementation, Internet access/use, the management of the labs etc. With "capacity building for sustainable development" as its philosophy, Peace Corps/The Gambia seeks to help people help themselves, through the transfer of skills and the use of ICT to improve their lives. As appropriate, a PCV might help link a school and/or community to a potential source(s) for the donation of equipment, but this will be secondary to the training capacity building of teachers, students and community members, as DOSE is responsible for the provision of equipment.

Whenever possible, PCV ICT work will build on existing projects and initiatives and Network with appropriate partners, such as World Links in all project activities. The training programs, materials and modules of the two parties will need to be reviewed, combined or used to compliment each other where possible.

All stages of World Links and Peace Corps/The Gambia's ICT work will be monitored and evaluated, to track and assess its impact on teaching and learning and amendments made if necessary to meet the stated purpose, goals and objectives of the POA.

World Links/The Gambia:-

To participate through its respective officers in the planning, development and implementation of Peace Corps/The Gambia's ICT work in schools. Planning meetings, exchanges with PCVs, DOSE and other staff - involved from grassroots level as well as higher level e.g. Peace Corps/Washington and World Links/Washington, regional and within Senegambia will also be part of the process.

To participate in the pre-service orientation of the ICT Volunteers by way of introducing them to the World Links ICT program.

To ensure that ICT Volunteers are included in relevant trainings and activities as resource persons or participants based on the prevailing needs for similar, as the World Links program's primary focus is professional development.

To provide Volunteers with the normal training materials and support necessary for their ICT duties e.g. facilitate transportation, provision of network cards, hubs, zip drives etc. This can be facilitated through DOSE. The training programs, materials and modules of the two parties will need to be reviewed, combined or used to compliment each other where possible.

All stages of World Links and Peace Corps/The Gambia's ICT work will be monitored and evaluated, to track and assess its impact on teaching and learning and amendments made if necessary to meet the stated purpose, goals and objectives of the POA.

Activities:-

School Labs:-

DOSE, it is hoped will assume a lead role in the provision of computers and the establishment of the labs. This will entail the installation of available computers in school labs, networking them, the management and maintenance of the labs and trouble shooting training. The World Links Coordinator and select PCVs can help facilitate the process. Major hardware problems should be contracted to suppliers or service providers by DOSE. The work needs to start immediately and will be ongoing.

Training:-

As stated under the roles and responsibilities section of this POA, the training programs, materials and modules of the two parties will need to be reviewed, combined or used to complement each other where possible. This needs to be done as both parties have developed and implemented training programs and modules on some of the areas mentioned below. In the area of curriculum development and training manuals Peace Corps has developed a "national ICT curriculum" in collaboration with other stakeholders which has been adopted by DOSE and is being used.

World LInks:-

• Phase 0 - Basic Concepts of Information Technology
• Phase 1 - Introduction to the Internet for Teaching and Learning
• Phase II- Telecollaborative Learning Projects
• Phase III - Curriculum and Technology Integration
• Phase IV Curriculum and Content Creation and Dissemination of Innovations
• Phase V - Policy Makers Workshop

Peace Corps/The Gambia:-

• Pre-service Training for ICT PCVs, Supervisors, Counterparts and Partners-July to Sept.
• ICT/GAD In-service Training for PCVs and their Counterparts-April.
• Regional Troubleshooting Workshops -April to June.
• Regional and School based trainings in ICT, especially literacy, Internet access, incorporating ICT in the curriculum and troubleshooting-ongoing.

  Projects and pledges:-

  1. The "Telecenter" module for School Fund Raising to meet running costs of the labs and to provide community access to the Internet.
  2. The Gender and ICT Capacity Building Training program
  3. The development of The Gambia cyber conference (English, Wollof and Mandinka) and web site (English) for on site trainings and sensitization activities.
  4. The development of the Senegambian Web site (in English, French, Mandinka and Wollof) for exchange purposes with linked schools, Universities and other institutions, trainings and sensitization.
  5. The advocacy program can utilize the cyber conference as a start up approach at the end of March, if they are ready and we can also follow the advocacy plan approved by the steering committee.
  6. 2002 Senegambian Cyber Summer Camp for 100Girls - September 15 - 30, 2002.
  7. ICT Campaign for 100 teachers on Internet access and the incorporation of ICT in the curriculum from July to September. This training will be done in phases in collaboration with DOSE and other stakeholders.
  8. ICT Conference and Fair for all stakeholders, policy makers, teachers and students on the theme "ICT and Education" .

     Partnerships:-

     DOSE, PC/TG, World Links, FAWEGAM, Women's Bureau, YMCA and the Center for Educational Technology will collaborate on trainings based on the design and agreements reached.

     The ICT Consortium and ISOC will also be part of the collaboration based on special projects such as the Newsletter and the proposed ICT Conference and Fair.

     The Private Sector e.g. GAMTEL, Standard Chartered Bank Gambia Ltd., the Gambia Chamber of Commerce, Quantum, Cube Computers and other business concerns, especially, those working in ICT will also be tapped as partners in our work.

     In addition, the two parties agree:-

     To assume new roles and responsibilities additional to the already agreed-upon roles and responsibilities, mutually considered as necessary and relevant to the goals of the DOSE, Peace Corps/The Gambia and World Links programs.

     Any part of this protocol of agreement may be modified, amended or terminated by a written notice of 30 days and as mutually desired by Peace Corps/The Gambia and World Links.

     Back To Top
     
     G O   BACK