Providing Economically Disadvantaged Children with Access to Computer Training: A Continuation of Lanka Academic Networks (LacNet) Computers for Schools Project- project outline
A project proposal submitted to the LAcNet Board
of Directors: 2001-2002 April 2001
Executive Summary
In 1999, LAcNet began its "Computers for Sri Lankan
Schools project" by establishing a computer center at the Niwaththaka Chetiya
School in Anuradhapura. The goal was to provide less privileged children
in rural Sri Lanka with access to information technology. This proposal
is for the first part of a project which would further this goal by establishing
a computer center at the Sri Lankan Malay Association (SLMA) Vocational
Center in Colombo 2. In this first stage, LAcNet will ship, set up
and begin instruction regarding the use of three computers and one printer.
Upon the success of this first stage, a second proposal will be submitted
for the purposes of getting the computers online and providing students with
Internet access.
Project Goal
The immediate aim of the project is to provide children
in a vocational center with basic computer literacy skills. The long-term
aim is to broaden their educational horizons through access to the Internet.
The project will also provide valuable logistical experience for LAcNet and
in this way enable similar projects in the future.
Project Rationale
The pilot project in Anuradhapura is tied to the broader goal closing the information gap between elite educated groups and the majority of the population that has little access to information technology. In even broader terms, the closing of this information gap is linked to the very important goal of economic development. A more educated population attracts more and better investment.
Closing the information gap also relates to social and human development. More educated individuals have more career options and better life chances. In other words, they have more of the freedom and equality necessary to pursue the goals they set out for themselves.
In the statement of the first project, the rural-urban
divide was stressed. Urban educated elites obviously have more access
to the benefits of information technology than most rural dwellers.
It is also an obvious fact, however, that there is a great deal of stratification
within urban areas. Children like those at the SLMA Vocational Center
in Colombo do not have access to computers at school or in the home, nor
can they afford the expensive hourly fees at Internet Cafes.
Project Description
In this section, I provide a brief description of the school, the computer resources to be provided, and the means through which the project will be administered.
The School
The SLMA Vocational School?s long tradition of support
for the education of its community?s economically disadvantaged children
and the energy and enthusiasm of its core members make it well suited for
the teaching of basic computer literacy. It is a well-established organization
which receives donations from organizations and businesses such as the Sir
Macan Marker Trust Fund, Forbes & Walkers, Arpico Finance Co., Habib Bank
Zurich, and CIC Ltd. It also receives donations from members of the
Colombo Malay community.
The SLMA Vocational School was established in 1953 and is located on Kew Road in Colombo 2. The school provides a number of educational and other services to youth in the local community. During the day, the schoolhouse is used as a pre-school center. In the evenings, it is used as an after school vocational center. Courses include typing, spoken English, and dress making. The vocational school provides continuing support to children from the community going on for higher education. More than 75 students have been provided with university scholarships.
The SLMA Vocational School?s long tradition of educational service has been possible because of a strong community of dedicated supporters. Two of the SLMA?s most dedicated members are Mrs. Sutami Ratnavale and Mrs. Dalrina Burah. Mrs. Ratnavale and Mrs. Burah have long tended to the SLMA?s administrative concerns as senior office holders. They also have a hands-on approach in administering the SLMA?s social programs and in teaching the school?s after school English and typing programs.
Both Mrs. Ratnavale and Mrs. Burah are capable of teaching computer literacy skills. Mrs. Ratnavale has attended computer training courses in London especially designed to aid the administration of charitable organizations.
Computer Resources
Four computers, four monitors, and one printer
will be sent to the school.
LAcNet will donate one PentiumPro 90 MHz computer. Mr. Martin Teitelbaum and Dr. Mary Ann Teitelbaum of Lorain, Ohio have donated one Pentium computer, two 486 computers, two color monitors and a number of computer programs. Both Pentiums will operate with Windows 95 and both 486s with Windows 3.1. The Government Department of Cornell University has donated one color monitor. Mrs. Rita Teitelbaum has agreed to donate one new bubble jet printer. Emmanuel Teitelbaum has donated one dot matrix printer. The computers, monitors and printer are all in good working condition.
The computers will be housed in a 20'X15' room where instruction in typewriting currently takes place. The room currently houses one 386 computer and dot matrix printer. A member of the SLMA community constructed a special storage case with a padlock for this computer. The possibility of similar cases for the new batch of computers is currently being explored.
Administration and Instruction
Emmanuel Teitelbaum will serve as the primary
co-ordinator and liaison between LAcNet and the SLMA. Emmanuel will
be in Colombo during the summer of 2001 and will aid in setting up the computers
and in providing the students with their first instruction. Following
this initial guidance, Mrs. Ratnavale and Mrs. Burah will provide computer
instruction along with the regularly scheduled typing lessons. Emmanuel
will return to Sri Lanka the following fall and will be in Colombo for the
entirety of the 2002-2003 academic year during which time he will continue
instructing the children in basic computer skills and, if the children are
online, begin instruction regarding the use of the Internet.
LacNet's Commitment
1. Donation of one PentiumPro 90 MHz computer.
2. Volunteers to assist the computers through
customs.
3. Monitoring and evaluating the success of
the project.
4. Providing suggestions for the improvement
of instructional programs.
5. Requesting financial support from members
for specific maintenance costs on a case by case basis.
6.Immediate funding for shipping, the purchase of
one monitor for use with Walawe, one scanner.
SLMA's Commitment
Budget details
Only the initial costs for equipment purchases and transportation costs are included. Maintenance costs, if relevant, will be requested in separate requests as needed.
Cost of Monitor purchase (4)
(15" CTX)
$155
Cost of Scanner purchase (4)
Microtek V6 UPL parallel port
$138
Cost of transformer/surge protector
purchase (1) (2)
$ 30
Shipping costs
Shipping to Colombo (3)
Port of origin: Lanka Shipping agent, NY
Destination port: Colombo
4 CPUs (3 cubic feet each @ $9/cubic-foot)
$108
4 Monitors (7 cubic-feet @ $9/cubic-foot)
$252
1 Miscellaneous box (Scanner; software, etc.;
3 cubic-feet @ $9/cubic-foot)
$ 27
Local shipping from ET's residence to shipping agents
warehouse (1)
(9 boxes @ $12/box)
$108
Total shipping costs $495
Total request
$818
Budget Notes: (1) Items for which ET is requesting
reimbursement (2) Estimated cost for purchase in Colombo (3) Lanka shipping
will bill LAcNet directly (4) Estimated costs for purchase in U.S. ET
will explore the possibility of purchasing these items locally during his
visit during the summer of 2001. If this option is not feasible, the
items will be purchased by LacNet and sent in a later shipment, for which
a separate request will be made.