INTERNATIONAL LITERACY INSTITUTE
30 May 2001
Signing of a Memoranda of Understanding between
International Literacy Institute and State Governments of Andhra Pradesh
and Karnataka
Hyderabad, 19 May 2001
Bangalore, 25 May 2001
INDIA
Concerning the BRIDGES TO THE FUTURE INITIATIVE
The International Literacy Institute (ILI) is pleased to announce
a new and important collaboration with two state governments in India
-- Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka -- in the promotion of basic education,
literacy, and technical/vocational skills through the appropriate
use of information and communication technologies (ICT). This collaborative
project, called the Bridges to the Future Initiative (BFI) will be
supported by public and private agencies, with preliminary support
already provided by UNESCO and J.P. Morgan, Inc.
Chief
Minister Naidu and associates with Professor Wagner
On behalf of the state government of Andra Pradesh (population 67
million), Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu emphasized the importance
of utilizing ICT multimedia tools and distance education to enhance
the capabilities of thousands of teachers and instructors in the non-formal
and formal education sectors in Andhra Pradesh to improve basic literacy
skills of millions of children, youth and adult learners. In addition,
the Chief Minister commented on the importance of "including
the best expertise that is available worldwide on this challenging
problem." Further, Mr. Naidu made reference to the substantial
investments already being made in Andhra Pradesh in putting computers
into secondary schools, and how the BFI effort can build upon that
on-going investment.
Chief
Minister Krishna of Karnataka with Professor Wagner
On behalf of the state government of Karnataka (population 50 million),
Chief Minister S. M. Krishna, announced the government’s aim
was to improve the State’s literacy rate from the present 67
per cent to 80 per cent in the next four years,as reported the next
day in Bangalore's Deccan Herald newspaper. The Chief Minister went
on to say that the BFI is ideally suited to the needs of Karnataka,
as it combines the state's priority needs in basic education and literacy
with our substantial and growing strengths in applying the power of
ICTs to a variety of social and economic needs.
For his part, Professor Dan Wagner, Director of the ILI and Professor
of Education at the University of Pennsylvania, remarked that the
research-based approach of the BFI seeks to provide for the cost-effective
use of ICTs for education and economic development in a number of
regions in India, as well as a "model worldwide for how to employ
technology in the service of the poorest of the poor." Dr. Wagner
emphasized the collaborative nature of the project, where governmental,
non-governmental and private corporate institutions, as well as universities,
are working together toward addressing one of every nation's most
important priorities -- universal literacy.
Besides the Chief Ministers, state secretaries of government and
the press, also participating in these events partner representatives
from UNESCO and J.P. Morgan, Inc., as well as representatives from
Indian partner institutions, including Indira Gandhi National Open
University, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University and Karnataka State
Open University. The ILI is UNESCO's R&D institute for the improvement
of literacy, and is located at the University of Pennsylvania/ Graduate
School of Education in Philadelphia, USA, website: www.literacy.org).
The BFI project fits directly with the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (Education
for All) movement in India, and the upcoming UN Decade for Literacy.
It is also the first part of a global BFI initiative to utilize ICTs
to improve literacy and basic education in countries with emerging
economies. Other countries which are part of the initial BFI effort
include Mexico and South Africa. As a public-private collaborative
project, the BFI in India will be enlisting the support of private
corporations, foundations and non-governmental agencies to work toward
the common goal of improving universal basic education and literacy
in India. The total target of funding for each state is approximately
$5 million over a 3-year start up period. Several other Indian states
have expressed an early interest to join the BFI, and these will be
considered in due course.
A key assumption of the BFI approach is that the digital divide is
not only one of access to hardware connectivity, even though those
aspects are essential. Rather, and in addition, there is a critical
education and skills divide separating the rich and the poor. Thus,
literacy and technological literacy need to be simultaneously addressed
with information and instructional resources that can be delivered
via ICTs in a culturally appropriate manner (in a variety of languages)
-- for a cost far lower, and at higher quality, than has been possible
heretofore. In order to meet this broad target, the BFI will include
several overlapping phases of implementation: (1) development of tools
to improve basic education and literacy through NFE teacher training;
(2) development of community learning and technology centres (CLTCs)
for social and economic information resources (e.g. health, agriculture,
HIV/AIDS prevention, etc.) and lifelong learning; and (3) development
and implementation of advanced ICT-supported services to unreached
areas; and (4) support to community polytechnics for basic vocational
skills.
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For more information, contact:
Dr. Dan Wagner, Director and Professor
International Literacy Institute
University of Pennsylvania
3910 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-3111 USA
tel: (general): 215-898-2100
tel: (direct): 215-898-9803
fax: 215-898-9804
email: wagner@literacy.upenn.edu
http://www.literacy.org/
