Fact Sheet

Date Place Details Participants Links

In 2005, GeSCI signed up as a core partner on the ambitious Rajasthan Education Initiative,
modeled along the lines of the Jordan Education Initiative, along with WEF, CII and the Govt of
Rajasthan. To supplement its work in supporting the GoR to develop a cohesive framework to
integrate ICT in Education, GeSCI organized a two day pre-conference meeting, which provided in
depth understanding on the real challenges faced by the State Education Institutes and the partners
19-22 April
who represented the corporate sector, NGOs and core partners.
2006
GeSCI provided support in documenting the workshop and the succeeding REI Update meeting.
The situation of the schools and ICTs in the state of Rajasthan are almost similar to that of the
other states in the country, and as such provided GeSCI the much needed on field understanding to
initiate dialogue at the Centre with the Govt of India.

The very first consultation with MHRD. Joint Secy, Sh SC Khuntia chaired the session which was
attended by the senior officials of the Central Education Agencies viz; CBSE, NCERT, KVS, NVS,
State Institutes of Education and some teachers from Schools. Mrs Astrid Dufborg, ED GeSCI,
Alex Twinomugisha and Ashish Garg attended the workshop. Alex solicited information regarding
24/04/06 New Delhi the processes followed in the schools to put ICT in classrooms and to use them for teaching.

This provided further understanding that not only did the states follow no processes, but there was a
lack of awareness of what ICTs could really do in the Classrooms. That led to further confusion on
how ICTs may be best used.

Ashish Garg, represented GeSCI at the Key note session at e Asia 2006 and delivered a talk on
'Leadership reflections in ICT in Education in Asia' . This talk helped to spread awareness on the
eASIA 2006, concept of an “End to End Framework” and its need in the process of integrating ICT in School
28/04/06 Read More... (link: http://www.digitallearning.in/dlasia/2006/ )
Bangkok Thailand Education and more importantly the need for a Cohesive National Policy that would provide the
needed focus and road map. CSDMS here is providing the platform for GeSCI's agenda.

Ashish Garg, became part of the Advisory Board for CSDMS and participated in the first meeting
First Advisory for eIndia 2006.
Board Meeting This meeting proved the platform to compel the stakeholders to start thinking about the need for a Read more...
25/05/06
eINDIA2006 National Policy that could provide direction to the multiple ICT initiatives being carried out in ( http://www.digitallearning.in/june06/education_and_devlopment.asp)
( CSDMS) several pockets of the country. At this session, it was decided that a special session was needed at
the eIndia 2006, which would focus on the Need for an ICT Policy in the country. This forum
provided us with an impetus to take this concept to a public discussion forum.

At yet another CSDMS platform, Gesci conducts a Panel Discussion on “Framework for ICT in
Education Policy”. The session was chaired by Subhash C Khuntia, Joint Secretary, Ministry of
Human Resource Development, Government of India, and Ashish Garg, India Coordinator, GeSCI,
moderated the session. The session deliberated on the systematic approaches required, the efficacy
of a policy to systemically integrate ICTs in education and the components of such a policy. The
session focussed on identifying policy needs, establishing the role and the interest of GeSCI to
eINDIA2006 facilitate/assist the Government of India/MHRD in framing the policy, drawing lessons from the Read more: (link:
25/08/06
conference Namibian (International experience and REI (the Indian scenario) experiences and encouraging the http://www.digitallearning.in/june06/exhibition_report.asp )
MHRD to make a commitment in framing a policy and implementation plan for ICT in School
Education.

For the first time, the Joint Secy, Govt of India, accepted that India needs a National Policy to
effectively use ICTs in Schools. He also said that GeSCI might be called upon to lead the process of
policy development.

Special issue of Digital Learning magazine on ICT in Education Policy

01/09/06 GeSCI supported and contributed content to the issue. This really marked the beginning of a Read more: (link: http://www.digitallearning.in/sept06/index.asp )
strategic move to associate more closely with CSDMS.

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Success for GeSCI's lobbying when the Joint Secy, Education, MHRD, Govt of India, invites a
proposal from GeSCI to assist the Govt of India to develop India’s First National ICT in Education
01/12/06
Policy. The proposal went through several reiterations and revisions before being finally accepted in
March 2007

A session on 'ICT in Education-Theory and Practice' was incorporated in the Conference agenda.
The session brought some of the key drivers from the leading countries of technology-enabled
education to deliberate on the most pressing challenges of technology-enabled education from
eASIA2007 Read more: (link: http://www.digitallearning.in/articles/article-
01/02/07 capacity building to reengineering pedagogy, change management to providing digital access.
conference details.asp?articleid=1073&typ=Cover%20Story )
Ashish Garg, representing GeSCI, highlighted experiences on what exists, in India, the availability,
preparedness, the various practices and the shortfalls on the ICTs and education front. Policy
guidelines and framework for a National Policy on ICT in Education in India were discussed.

The Joint Secy, Education, MHRD, Govt of India, finally approves terms of the proposal; A final
solicitation is to be made to the Education Secy, MHRD, Govt of India. At this time , it was
becoming increasingly clear that GeSCI would have to find a strong partner to assist in the
01/03/07 facilitation of the consultations across the country and to document the policy process.
At the instance of Terry Culver Deputy Director, GeSCI a first set of discussions were held with the
Director of CSDMS – Mr Ravi Gupta and both the organisations technically agreed to partner in the
process of developing the National Policy.

A final presentation was made to the Education Secy, MHRD, Govt of India and Education panel of
the ministry. The proposal was approved and sent for approval to the relevant ministries viz;
Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs.
05/04/07
An Educational Advisor, of the rank of Director was also commissioned to assist GeSCI in its work
with the federal ministry and the state ministries of Education. He would also follow up on all
necessary approvals within the ministry

GeSCI and CSDMS started to work together in developing the background for the draft document
on Policy. Weekly consultations with the ministry helped to provide the necessary insight into the
01/06/07
needs, the requirements at the state level and the challenges faced in implementing new processes.
It doesnt seem like there is any involvement from educationists at this time

First National Stakeholder Consultation Workshop

GeSCI is placed as the neutral expert with experience from around the world
Recommendations: • Create a draft policy based on the workshop and then invite discussions on it,
# Attendees include: Govt,
through the creation of a blog or group.
NCERT, private, international and
• A first draft of a National policy to be developed in the next couple of months through a
NGOs, one guy from Red Hat also
collaborative process with the involvement of the stakeholders, experts and practitioners.
31/07/07 eINDIA2007 attended. We are unclear who got Workshop report - http://www.csdms.in/gesci/pdf/gesci.pdf
-The work may begin in two phases: development of the framework for an overarching policy
invites to attend this meeting, and
followed by development of an implementation strategy to support the policy.
whether it was an open call, or
• The policy documents should be completed in a period of about two months and simultaneously
select invitees...
start deliberating on Implementation Strategy.
• While preparing the documents, efforts be made to analyze the policies evolved by the States in
India,other countries, international agencies , and by private sector as a part of their corporate social
responsibility.

# Sourav Banerjee, Education

Specialist, USAID India
# Aakash Sethi, QUEST Alliance
# Radha Ganesan, QUEST
3) Recommendations: • Create a draft policy based on the workshop and then invite discussions on Alliance
01/08/07 eINDIA2007 http://www.csdms.in/gesci/pdf/recommendations.pdf
it, through the creation of a blog or group. # Prof. Marmar Mukhopadhyay,
Director, Educational Technology
and Management Academy, India
# Naimur Rahman, One World
South Asia

India Islamic
• A first draft of a National policy to be developed in the next couple of months through a
22/09/07 Cultural Center,
collaborative process with the involvement of the stakeholders, experts and practitioners.
New Delhi

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# Osama Manzar, Digital

Empowerment Foundation (DEF)
# Anshul Sonak, INTEL
Hotel Ashok, New - The work may begin in two phases: development of the framework for an overarching policy # Radha Ganesan, QUEST
23/11/07
Delhi followed by development of an implementation strategy to support the policy. Alliance
# Douglas Bell, Education
Development Centre (EDC)
# Ajay Kapur, Oracle

November,
• The policy documents should be completed in a period of about two months and simultaneously
December
start deliberating on Implementation Strategy.
2007

• While preparing the documents, efforts be made to analyze the policies evolved by the States in
Auroville,
06/12/07 India,other countries, international agencies , and by private sector as a part of their corporate social
Pondicherry
responsibility.

1st Inter Ministerial Consultation on National Policy on ICT in School Education

Invites were sent out to a diverse list of close to 40 invitees, out of which only about 20 attended, Invitee and participant list is
13/02/08 Delhi
with over representation of private sector ICT vendors. Additionally, the draft policy document was attached separately.
not prepared with the attending group, but instead, was circulated in an already written form to the
group for comments.

2nd Inter Ministerial Consultation on the National Policy on ICT in School Education
12/03/08 Delhi
* Scheduled *

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