Hewlett Foundation Announces $900K Grant to African Virtual University for Teacher Training Program.
A new Web initiative launched at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), will connect anyone with Internet access and the desire to learn to a world of free, high-quality open educational materials. The Development Gateway Foundation's "Open Educational Resources" portal aims to equalise access to education and help people in developing countries improve their chances for a better life.
The portal features free course materials and other educational content offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Chinese Open Resources for Education and other institutions around the world. The initiative is launched in partnership by the Development Gateway Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
While content on the Open Educational Resources portal is particularly geared to educators, students and self-learners in developing countries it is available for everyone. The portal will also facilitate communication among the growing online community of providers and users of free, online educational resources.
The Hewlett Foundation also announced a $900,000 grant to support the Teacher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa (TESSA) initiative, an "open content" resource bank of educational materials to train teachers in basic curriculum areas including literacy, numeracy, science and life and health skills. TESSA is a consortium of African and international organizations. It is led by the African Virtual University (Nairobi) and the Open University (UK).
"These two innovative activities will provide access to high quality content drawn from throughout the world," said Marshall Smith, Educational Director of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. "This is critical in areas such as Africa, where lack of infrastructure and the high cost of education prevent millions of people from raising the quality of life in their communities."
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