Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative

On 12 December 2003, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) affirmed the Geneva Declaration of Principles related to Building the Information Society: a global challenge in the new millennium. it was acknowledged that information and communication technologies have a crucial part to play in addressing these global issues and plays a key role in the Geneva Plan of Action. Almost 50 government leaders, 82 Ministers, and 26 Vice-Ministers from 175 countries, as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, the private sector, and society attended the Geneva Phase of WSIS and gave support to the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Geneva Plan of Action.

The Global eSchools and Communities Initiative (GeSCI) was established in 2004, a result of the work of the United Nations ICT Task Force which agreed that education is an area desperately in need of development and one where ICTs (information and communication technologies) have the potential to create vast positive changes.The UN ICT Task Force approved a proposal for a UN-affiliated organization to work in this field. Providing demand-driven assistance to communities in developing countries who are seeking to channel the potential of ICTs into improving the quality of education in primary and secondary academic institutions. GeSCI is headquartered in Dublin, with the support of the governments of Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland and Finland. Canada was one of the founding partners.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is a general term that refers to "any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, the Internet, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing and distance learning."

GeSCI provides expert, strategic advice to the Ministries of Education in the communities of developing countries on the effective implementation of information and communication technologies. Adopting a demand driven, supportive and comprehensive approach, GeSCI aims to improve the quality of teaching and learning through the appropriate and effective use of ICTs, thereby transforming education, empowering communities and promoting development. At its core, GeSCI's basic goal is to facilitate sustainable and quality education and community development, through the effective deployment of ICTs in schools.

At the local, national and regional level, GeSCI works to support the creation and effective implementation of ICT4E strategies, using a collaborative, comprehensive and demand-driven approach. Acting as guide, GeSCI fosters country ownership of ideas, strategies and implementation, allowing communities to maintain sustained development.

In all aspects of its work, GeSCI responds to the Ministry’s needs, who determine the design and implementation of policies and plans. Capacity building strategies and utilizing ICTs cost-effectively to achieve educational objectives are all directed by the Ministry. GeSCI’s approach is comprehensive and coordinated, and driven by demand and need.

At the Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative, it is believed that programs to improve the quality of education through the deployment of ICTs in schools can also improve the economic and general social well-being of the wider community. These efforts can provide an ideal system for linking residents to the greater global community, helping to increase the education level of the overall populace, and granting access to health and government services previously unavailable. In short, ICTs deployed in schools to help redress educational deprivation can also help to accomplish wider development goals.

GeSCI’s community is comprised of a number of partnerships from many disciplines, all offering support and expertise to achieve our common goals. As well as their partners in developing countries such as Ministries of Education, rural and urban schools, telecommunications providers and other local partners, GeSCI also fosters relationships with a variety of donors and non-profits whose expert experience of development enhance their efforts to aid their developing country partners.

ICT's in Developing Nations

In our modern life, we use information and communication technologies every day in so many ways. it is becoming increasingly easy to take them for granted. Like the electric sockets in our houses, we seldom stop to think about how amazing it is that we can walk into a room and plug in an appliance and have it magically work, or pick up the phone and dial a friend anywhere in the world. However, like the complex system of power stations, transformers and amazing devices that bring us electric power, the ability for us to communicate so quickly and effectively all over the globe in an instant requires an amazing amount of knowledge, resources, money and time to implement.

Moving information and method we use to do it could generally be considered a kind of ICT, but it properly refers to systems that use modern technology such as computers, electronics and scientific advances such as cell phones and ipods. It is a term heard more often outside the US, and often is used in reference to a particular area such as: "ICT's in education or health care."

ICT means “Information and Communications Technology” (or technologies). This is a very generalized term that refers to a multitude of communication forms. ICT in society might include television, cellular telephones, satellites, radio, computer software, computer hardware and many others.

Not everyone in the world has access to these necessities, however. These crucial tools to our modern existence that we so take for granted are not present everywhere. There are entire communities, and countries that are still and these places lack the resources to make full use of these modern technologies. For peoples looking to join the race and thrive in the global market, these Information and Communication Technologies must be understood, implemented and used effectively. Development through ICTs is one of the most effective ways for nations to join the dialogue. It takes a lot of support from experts who are already doing this in other places. This is where organizations like the Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative comes in.

GeSCI was established in 2004, founded by the UN ICT Task Force. The United Nations ICT task force approved a proposal for a UN affiliated organization to provide demand-driven assistance to developing countries seeking to utilize the tremendous potential ICT’s have for improving the quality of teaching and learning in primary and secondary education.

We have a whole world of information at our fingertips through the power of the internet, as well as radio station, satellites and televisions. The opportunity to reach out to another person nearly anywhere in the world through the amazing advances of telephone and cellular communication technology is completely expected and taken for granted. These technologies are absolutely essential to the survival of our modern culture. Even our cars come equipped with GPS tracking devices, which is constant communication for us.

Its good to see that there are others who are in a position to give a hand, and share their expertise for the good of others. These pioneers are helping to facilitate development that allows an even playing field for all. Future world leaders can now come from places previously isolated form the global community, and education and information previously unavailable to the residents of these communities can help to create a true global family.

ICT's in Education

As the global community grows, education becomes increasingly more important for every individual as well as every country. In many countries education is difficult to come by, particularly in developing countries where poverty is much more prevalent then so called first world countries such as the United States, England and pretty much the whole of Europe. With the advent of the internet, education has become increasingly more possible for anyone who has access to the internet and a computer. However, not everyone has this level of affluence. Not everyone can afford internet service much less a computer. So how do people in developing countries such as Bolivia, Ghana, Rwanda, India, and Namibia access this education so they can rise up out of poverty? Well now there is a foundation that is, as their slogan states, transforming education, empowering communities, and promoting development in these countries. GESCI, global e-schools and communities initiative, is working to reduce poverty by helping to bring education to these people in need. Founded by the United Nations (UN) Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Task Force in 2004 the foundation works with the governments of developing countries to harness the potential of ICTs to improve the quality of teaching and learning in communities and schools.

India is a good example of why GeSCI is needed in communities worldwide. Even though there are 1.12 million schools spanning 35 states and union territories there are still 35 million children who are not in school. This is the world’s largest out-of-school population. So what is being done about this situation?

What is GeSCI doing in India? Currently in the early stages of planning GeSCI is focusing on helping the Department of School Education (DoSE), Ministry of Human Resources and Development (MHRD), and Ministry of Education (MoE) in conjunction with Rajasthan Education Initiative (REI) to create ICT enabled school environments. The following steps are taken to lay out the policies and framework for the DoSE and MHRD, to assume its leadership role in the ICT in School Education arena:

• Developing an appropriate framework to support the effective deployment and integration of ICTs in the Education system.

• Providing a platform for dialogue amongst all relevant stakeholders to ensure alignment of plans, programs and projects.

• Evolving a strategy for leveraging economies of scale in procurement of standard content, equipment and services, and leveraging resources from other partners.

• Evolving a mechanism to ensure that knowledge, expertise and skills are shared across all states and territories.

• Building in house capacities within the MoE to conduct regular updates for ensuring a dynamic and live policy.


It is through steps like these just mentioned, GeSCI will help elevate educational systems in developing nations around the world and begin bringing people and communities out of poverty and into an overall better living situation. Giving people access to education helps the individual grow to become a more discerning and responsible participant of the global family. These individuals as community members will hopefully begin to bring themselves, their families and their communities out of poverty with their newly gained insights. And, as communities grow in education and economic affluence townships, cities, states and countries as a whole grow. GeSCI may be a relatively new foundation but it is making many inroads with its work. You can check out what they have going on at www.gesci.org.

The Importance of Information and Communication Technologies.

The Importance of Information and Communication Technologies.
By: Jack Moe

ICT is an abbreviation that means “Information and Communications Technology” (or technologies). This is a blanket term that refers to many forms of communication. ICT in society might include television, cellular telephones, satellites, radio, computer software, computer hardware and many others.

Basically, any form of moving information from one place to another could be considered a kind of ICT, but it generally refers to systems that use electronics, computers or other forms of modern technology. It is a term heard more often outside the US, and often is used in reference to a particular area such as: "ICT's in education or healthcare."

In our modern world, we are using these technologies every day in so many ways and it is very easy to take them for granted. Like the light bulbs in our houses, we seldom stop to think about how amazing it is that we can walk into a dark room and flip on a light switch. However, like the complex system of power stations, wires and amazing devices that bring us electric power, the ability for us to communicate so quickly and effectively requires and amazing amount of knowledge, resources and time to implement.

We have a whole world of information at our fingertips through the power of the World Wide Web, television and radio, as well as the ability to reach out to another person nearly anywhere in the world through the amazing advances of telecommunications. These technologies are absolutely essential to the operation of our modern culture, illustrated by the fact that I am writing and you are reading this via the most profound of Information and Communication Technologies: the computer.

Not everyone is so lucky, however. These essential tools to our modern existence that we so take for granted are not present everywhere. There are entire nations that are still struggling socially, politically and financially, and these places lack the resources to make full use of these modern wonders. For nations looking to join modern society and thrive in the global community, these Information and Communication Technologies must be understood, implemented and used effectively. Development through ICTs is one of the most effective ways for nations to join the global community.

Of course as you can well imagine, that takes a lot of support from experts who are already doing this in other places. This is where organizations like the Global e-schools and Communities Initiative comes in.

GeSCI was established in 2004, founded by the UN ICT Task Force. The United Nations ICT task force approved a proposal for a UN affiliated organization to provide demand-driven assistance to developing countries seeking to utilize the tremendous potential ICT’s have for improving the quality of teaching and learning in primary and secondary education.

There was a wealth of information at www.gesci.org about how these programs are selected and implemented. Reading through some of the amazing things they are doing, and they’re unique approach to working with the ministries of education in these communities, I was inspired. GeSCI is transforming education, empowering communities and promoting development through ICTs. Imagine the amazing information, stories and culture that is waiting to be shared by folks who have never before been able to reach out to a neighbor across the sea.