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May 28, 2009

BT and UNICEF Launch Joint Initiative to Reduce Digital Exclusion in Rural China
By Calvin Azuri
TMCnet Contributor

BT has launched a joint initiative with UNICEF to bring modern technology to schools in remote and rural areas in China. As part of the initiative, BT (News - Alert) will be investing over $700,000 (5 million RMB) across Qinghai, Ningxia, Yunnan and Jiangxi which will benefit up to 6,000 students and 1,700 teachers.


 
Communications skills and technology provide individuals and communities the opportunity to improve their lives. According to Kevin Taylor, Chief Operating Officer for BT Asia Pacific, the company is committed to developing solutions that benefit society while supporting long-term growth.
 
A key geography for BT, the company is looking forward to working with UNICEF in Western China to help disadvantaged communities utilize the benefits of technology innovation.
 
The BT initiative is a part of the third phase of BT and UNICEF’s Inspiring Young Minds program. This program has been designed by UNICEF and the Chinese National Center for Educational Technology, Ministry of Education.
 
It is a global development partnership that has been designed to bring education, technology and communication skills to children from disadvantaged backgrounds in South Africa, Brazil and China. In the future, the program will be developed into a replicable and sustainable model which could be expanded to other schools.
 
As part of the initiative, computers, internet access, multi-media projectors and other educational materials will be provided in up to 40 rural schools which are under-resourced. Establishing an online learning community to enable teachers to explore information from the internet, to learn from each other and to share teaching resources are the other major activities included in the initiative. Around 40 percent of the teachers in project schools will be given training in computer skills and how to develop innovative teaching methods using information technology.
 
According to Yin Yin Nwe, the representative of UNICEF in China, this project will bring 21st century technology to disadvantaged schools which will enable students and their teachers to share high quality educational resources and to develop new skills. This will help to raise the quality of education in rural schools which will in turn give more children a better start in life.

Calvin Azuri is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Calvin’s articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Jessica Kostek

 

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