Issue

Education, whether it is primary, higher or skills development, is essential in providing people in the developing world with the means to fight poverty. Many schools in rural communities have inadequate resources and equipment. Providing them with data connectivity hugely enhances the children's learning experience, and provides an invaluable information portal for the whole community. Likewise, the pace of growth of the mobile communications market in developing countries has meant that in many areas, demand far outstrips the skills and resources available. Providing comprehensive and practical industry skills training enormously supports the initiatives to bring the benefits of mobile technology to emerging economies.

Objectives

Within Education & Skills the Development Fund has developed two separate initiatives to target two distinct needs for education and skills support:

Schools Connect

• Provide cost effective, fast and reliable data solution to schools
• Help realise full potential of existing computer facilities in schools
• Use a business model that is sustainable for all stakeholders in the long term

Telecoms Skills Development

• Develop and endorse new and existing courses for the training of the mobile industry workforce in regions where demand for mobile communications is growing faster than the skills and resources available
• Evaluate the potential of providing a similar programme for the area of mobile regulation in the developing world