SchoolNet Uganda

1
SchoolNet Uganda

• www.schoolnet.sc.ug
• By Charles Musisi Baker Ntambi
• AfNOG2001 12th May 2001 Accra, Ghana

2
History

• Started in 1996 as School-to School Initiative
• 1997 re named -- World Links for Development
  WorLD, and now
• SchoolNet - Uganda

3
3 Themes

• Computer Labs Connectivity
• Training Ongoing Support
• Pedagogical Issues Telecollaboration

4
Computer labs

• Typically 10 PCs
• Networked CAT5 Hub
• Stable power
• Productivity software
• Internet Access

5
Connectivity HF Radio

• HF Radio 2400 baud
• - E-mail only
• - choice of last resort
• - initial capital investment very high
• - has no recurrent costs

6
Connectivity GSM Dial-up

• GSM 9600 baud
• - E-mail limited surfing
• - Stable, though expensive
• - Only possible where GSM Network exists

7
Connectivity Dial-up Land lines

• Dial-up over Land lines
• - E-mail Internet access
• - Not cost effective as number grows
• - Service congested and at times poor

8
Connectivity ISM 2.4 Ghz

• - Offers unmetered access
• - serves large community fairly well
• - band getting congested
• - for full benefits, requires some skills to
  properly configure servers, system admin tasks
  etc..

9
Connectivity VSat

• - Covers a large foot print
• - Together with ISM 2.4Ghz provides access to a
  large community of schools
• - High capital costs
• - High recurrent costs

10
Training Ongoing Support

• Workshops
• Site visits
• Mailing lists
• Internet chat
• Peer support by students

11
Training

• System Admin tasks
• - Linux/FreeBSD(?) installation
• - System maintenance fsck
• - Simple database systems with MySQL
• - Managing the Apache Webserver

12
Training Web design

• Introduction to HTML
• Managing own web site

13
Training Professional development

• - Introduction to Internet and Teacher learning
• - Introduction to Telecollaboration learning and
  projects
• - Curriculum and technology Integration
• - Diffusion of ICT Innovations
• - Planning for School based Telecentres

14
Pedagogical Issues

• New School Computer Curriculum

15
Number of Schools

• Started with 3 Schools in 1996
• Expanded to 10 in 1997
• 30 1999-2000
• Present 50 Schools connected to the Internet,
  student staff use e-mail
• Most Schools have own school domain, server
  communities of upto 1000 at most sites

16
Expansion to 100 sites

• - 70 sites, 11 Vsat sites
• - Equipped with 10 PCs
• LAN
• Each Vsat School is expected to serve 10 others
• - New and old sites to become Community
  Telecentres

17
Expectations

• 50000 Student Staff by first quarter of 2002
• Will connecting to Upcoming IxP

18
Other relevant Issues

• Main University now has a wireless backbone, soon
  will have a fibre ring
• Uganda has 10 ISPs each with own Internet
  Gateway
• Total bandwidth 6MB
• Internet Exchange will soon be setup

19
Others Issues

• Estimated user base 40,000
• 7000 dial-up
• 20,0000 Internet Cafes, Secondary Primary
  Schools and growing
• 10,000 University users. Will soon be over
  25,000
• other access

20
Acknowledgements

• Several Private sector players
• - CelTel Cellular, Uganda OnLine, Starcom,
  PanWorld Inssurance
• Donors The WoLD Bank, IDRC, British Council,
  Government of Uganda,
• NSRC Steve Randy

21
Thats It!

• Any Questions?
• Thank you