Shortage of teaching staff and lack of Internet connectivity in public schools were the biggest impediments in training of instructors on how to integrate innovative technology and project-based learning into classrooms, according to officials of IT company that signed a memorandum of understanding with Ministry of Education. However, despite the shortage around 20,000 public school teachers underwent basic information and communication technology (ICT) training conducted in 42 various districts of the Kingdom. Ministry of Education signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Intel Corporation in December 2006 and an Intel Teach Program for around 500,000 instructors and 5.6 million students in 42 education districts was initiated. A training target for 50,000 instructors was set for a three-year period. “By end of May 2007 around 20,000 teachers at various public schools in the Kingdom got training under Intel Teach Program, which is aimed at training the teachers to effectively integrate technology and project-based learning into classrooms,” Khaled A. Adas, Corporate Affairs Manager of Intel Corporation told a press conference in Riyadh, Thursday. Abdulaziz Al-Noghaither, Intel General Manager for Saudi Arabia was also present. Adas said a majority of public schools lacked Internet connectivity, which basically hampered the training program for teachers and students. Because of the lack of Internet connectivity in the schools the teachers were required to go out to Intel training labs. However, this was not possible because of the shortage of teachers, he said. “According to our own survey around 85 percent of the public schools lacked Internet connectivity,” he said. However, despite the obstacles the training program has been progressing and the target for training of 50,000 instructors would be reached by end of 2009, he said. Adas said two-week training program was divided into 40-hour weekly. A teacher was required to be present in an environment that encourages the students to use the innovative technology as a learning tool. He said Saudi Arabia has been keen to develop a knowledge-based society, which was evidenced from the recent King Abdullah's initiative to equip schools with 1-1 PC so that all students could have accessibility to computers. He said in a knowledge-based society, digital technology is a gateway to economic and social progress. “Yet two-thirds of the world's people today live n countries with less than three percent PC penetration while billions other don't have access to high-speed communications,” he said. He said Intel has also been playing a role in King Abdullah's initiative for 1-1 PC for students by launching a pilot program at a public school in Riyadh. Two labs have been set up that are equipped with smart board, PCs and trained staff, he said. King Abdullah's 1-1 PC computing initiative was launched when Dr. Craig Barrett, Intel's chairman visited the Kingdom. Al-Nohgaither said: “Our joint commitment to technological innovation shows that much can be accomplished when private industry and government work in tandem to achieve a common vision.” He said around 14 Saudi students participated the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) that was organized from May 11 and 16 in Atlanta. Khalid Al-Nuaimi (17), a Saudi student who presented a solution for visually impaired won him a prestigious award in the Social Behavior Sciences Section of ISEF competition. In 2007 Al-Nuaimi won prize for inventing an improved shoe that removed obstacles from disabled pathway. __
