Memorandum
To: Veri Bold, President of the Democratic Republic of Berkmania
From: The Ministry of Education
Re: E-Berkmania – Why Learning Matters Most
Executive summary
The Ministry of Education welcomes the opportunity to comment on the best use to be given to the One Million Berkmanian dollars. We believe investing in Education is the best way to develop the country’s human capital and potential in all areas. While Berkmania needs an integrated and multifaceted approach to e-Berkmania, priority should be given to Education when allocating the resources from this special fund. These resources would be used mainly in the following areas: i) primary education iii) teacher training iii) community initiatives and iv) research and implementation of minimally intrusive learning techniques.
The importance of Education
- IT entrepreneurship depends upon a basic understanding of the technology, as well as basic skills and local human capacity;
- Policymaking, while it can serve as an enabler and ‘context-shaper’, can be void if the majority of the population cannot understand or take advantage of the policies to be implemented;
- E-commerce-related activities depend upon a market for the services and on an understanding of the services and the technology that is being used;
- The development of an IT services sector (e.g.. call centers, etc) requires employees skilled in using ICTs.
Proposed projects
- Projects at the primary education level: By raising the level of basic education in the country we can help form a more educated population and create the conditions to help alleviate the high levels of poverty felt in the country.
- Teacher training in IT skills and tools: essential for the successful implementation of the other projects and the evolution and effectiveness of education in the country.
- Community initiatives and collaborative learning: learning can be done in the framework of community involvement and initiatives. This will trigger wider participation of the population, and also build on a different set of skills: learning by doing, initiative and entrepreneurship capacity. These values are different from those on which formal education focuses.
- Research and implementation of minimally intrusive learning techniques, building on experiences around the world of constructionist learning using ICT: these techniques explore innovative and potentially powerful ways in which children learn, and can provide an opportunity to leapfrog the learning and development process, finding more effective and alternative methods of learning.
Conclusion