PROGRESS ON BFI PROJECT IN INDIA

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January - March 2003

INDIA

Hyderabad -- In conjunction with the State Government of Andhra Pradesh (GOA) and several NGO partners, the International Literacy Institute (ILI) has moved forward on a major agenda to meet the needs of thousands of illiterate or low literate Indian adults and youths through an innovative technology-based training and literacy program. The Bridges to the Future Initiative in India (BFI-India) was formally adopted by the GOAP in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) originally signed in Hyderabad on 30 May 2001 (see http://literacy.org/bfi_ili/pressrelease1.html) was accompanied by a second MOU with the State Government of Karnataka. This original MOU set in motion a new and important initiative to revitalize literacy work in South India.

ILI signs new MOU in Andhra Pradesh. On 28 January 2002, a second, implementation MOU was signed by four partners: ILI, GOAP, World Links, and Educomp Datamatics (see http://www.edumatics.com). These four partners have agreed to use a combined set of resources (see further details below) to create a set of 15 pilot dual-purpose Community Learning and Technology Centers under the BFI umbrella. Most of these CLTCs will be located in secondary schools in AP State, and will serve to train students and teachers during school hours, and be open to the public during non-school hours. In the latter case, ILI will work with Educomp and its subsidiary, LearningMate, to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate learning resources for illiterate and low-literate youth and adults. Some of these materials will be specifically designed to help children return to school through ‘Bridge Programs’ designed for those who have dropped out of school before completing primary school.

ILI implements MOU with World Links. ILI focuses primarily on basic education, non-formal education for youth, and adult literacy, while World Links, a well-known international NGO with close ties to the World Bank, has focused on support the use of IT in secondary schools in about two dozen countries (see www.world-links.com). In an MOU signed originally in August 2001, both parties agreed to find ways to support their complementary approaches to using IT to help the poor in developing countries. In India, under the BFI approach, World Links and ILI have teamed up for their first partnership activities, having secured collaboratively funding from both the JPMorganChase and the World Bank (see below). A joint team of World Links and ILI sponsored staff are now working together in AP state to implement the BFI-India in that state.

ILI signs MOU with Azim Premji Foundation. The Azim Premji Foundation, located in Bangalore, India, is widely recognized for its innovative work in technology and schooling, for its grass roots approach to development, and its commitment to India’s poorest populations. In collaboration with ILI, the two organizations will work to to establish productive linkages to strengthen their capacity to respond to the growing needs for human resource development to achieve improved opportunities for education and literacy in India. As part of their early joint work, ILI and the Foundation will work toward producing IT-based resources for out-of-school youth. For more information on the Foundation, see www.azimpremjifoundation.org.

Mr. Dileep Ranjekar, Executive Director of the Azim Premji Foundation and Prof. Dan Wagner of ILI signing the MOU to formalize their partnership.

ILI establishes collaborative partnership with Penn’s Institute for Advanced Study in India (UPIASI). The focal partner for the BFI is UPIASI --the University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India (www.sas.upenn.edu/casi/upiasi/). For both research expertise and management of much of ILI’s efforts in India, UPIASI is an invaluable resource, located in the heart of New Delhi, but with a network that spans across all of India. UPIASI was established in partnership with Penn’s Center for the Advanced Study of India.

ILI Receives support from JPMorganChase Foundation for BFI-India. World Links and the International Literacy Institute announced today that J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation will support their Bridges to the Future Initiative in India, aimed at increasing access to information and communication technologies for teachers, students, out-of-school youth, and adults.

The World Links-International Literacy Institute partnership will improve literacy levels, student learning, youth employment opportunities, and knowledge economy skills through the establishment of 15 dual-use telecenters in Hyderabad, the capital of India’s progressive state of Andhra Pradesh. The telecenters will be used to improve classroom teaching and learning during school hours, and to promote literacy training during after-school hours. The Partnership has created a comprehensive and cost-effective joint plan that represents an innovative and expansive effort to provide ICT-based learning as both formal and non-formal education–enabling them to reach a much broader range of disadvantaged individuals.

Commenting in a press release dated January 14, 2003, "We feel that the Bridges to the Future Initiative is directly in line with our priorities for educational development, and are eager to see what can be achieved by such a distinguished partnership", stated Dr. I.V. Subba Rao, Secretary of Education, Andhra Pradesh. "Building a nation of skilled and motivated youth is the backbone of development in every country," says Michael Feller, President of J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation, "and JPMorgan Chase is proud to support this project."

Support from Unicef and the World Bank received for BFI-India. The ILI is pleased to report that the BFI-India project has received continued funding from Unicef (the United Nations Children’s Fund. Unicef has been a key partner in the BFI-India project from its inception. The BFI expects to be able to take advantage of this partnership through the use of Unicef materials as well as expertise in the field. In addition, through a core grant from the World Bank, as part of the ILI-World Links partnership, BFI-India will receive support, along with South Africa and Ghana. The ILI and its partners greatly appreciate the support of these two international agencies.

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Contact Information
Dr. Janet C. Smith
Manager of Communications, International Literacy Institute
University of Pennsylvania/Graduate School of Education
Email: smith@literacy.upenn.edu
Phone: +1 (215) 746-6736