Scholarship Trust Launched for African Educationists
By Lilian Museka
ELearning Africa, the largest Pan-African conference on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for development, education and training, has launched a scholarship trust named EAST, to enable African education professionals benefit from networks and resources.
The not- for- profit organization, launched mid last month, was designed to enhance knowledge sharing and promote awareness of the benefits of technology-assisted learning and training across Africa.
Ms. Rebecca Stromeyer, eLearning Africa organizer and founder of the EAST organization said EAST, which builds on the previous eLearning Africa bursary programme, will offer scholarships to low-income, disadvantaged education professionals to help them take advantage of the networks, resources and conferences of eLearning Africa.
“Participation in Africa's premier eLearning event will ensure that educators, practitioners and researchers across the continent become part of the innovation process, enabling them to pass on useful knowledge to their own communities,” she said.
Stromeyer stated that with one of the largest populations of young people in the world, education was at the heart of Africa's future. eLearning and access to information are vital, adding that "EAST would help to raise awareness of the benefits of technology-enhanced learning on the continent and contribute to the development of new initiatives
Since its inception in 2006, eLearning Africa conference has constantly built up and linked a worldwide network of decision-makers from governments and administrations with education practitioners from public and private education institutions, industry and important partners.
The first one was hosted by Kenya in 2006, second in Ethiopia in 2007, third was hosted by Ghana in 2008 and the fourth in Senegal in 2009. The fifth, held last year was in Zambia. Tanzania will host this year’s conference slated for May between 25 – 27 at the Milimani City Conference centre in Dar es Salaam.
It is an annual event in Africa specifically devoted to the use of ICT in development, education and training.
"History has it that eLearning Africa has been a success," says Charles Senkondo, Executive Director of the Tanzania Global Development Learning Centre (TGDLN), who is involved in organising eLearing Africa 2011 development cooperation. It is this unique community of practice which enables us to spread the benefits of ICT-enhanced education across the African continent."
EAST seeks the assistance and partnership of like-minded foundations, corporations and international organisations for the following programmes: The Practitioners Scholarship Programme, The Expert Scholarship Programme, The Mentorship Programme and The Africa eContent Awards.