School-Based Telecentres - Uganda

First a week-long training session on the Establishment of school-based telecenters (SBTs) was conducted for headmasters from secondary schools. 15 SBTs were set up in the districts of Jinja, Iganga, Mbale, Soroti, Lira, Arua, Moroto, Hoima, Kabale, Masaka and Luwero. The cost of the technology is shared among the participating sites.


The sites, located within schools, provide computer and internet-oriented training and services for students and teachers. Many SBTs invite community members, government officials, members of NGOs, and those affiliated with civil society groups to use the telecentres; an effort is made to make facilities available in the evenings, on weekends, and during holiday periods. In addition, selected SBTs are piloting high-impact knowledge services for specific groups. For example, Telemedicine for the Moroto High Telecenter and E-commerce for Kigezi High Telecenter will include targeted training and product development activities.

Technology, Children, Education.

Every SBT in the WorldLink programme has a local ICT Coordinator (a teacher at the school) who oversees the technical and pedagogical operations of the SBTs. Prior to assuming this position, Coordinators are trained in basic business planning, technical management, and pedagogical aspects of ICT integration in education. All SBTs have management committees charged with the task of defining broad programme direction and working through challenges (which have included lack of reliable electric power, lack of time on the part of personnel, and difficulty in identifying particular community needs).

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Ministry of Education have supported this project.