The Junior Developer Program has sparked a revolution in our schools. Before, the computers weren t used very often but now everyone is using them.

Transcription

1 66 Partners in Learning Progress Report 2007 The Junior Developer Program has sparked a revolution in our schools. Before, the computers weren t used very often but now everyone is using them. Wafaa Mohamed Anwar, chief IT inspector for the governorate of Alexandria, Egypt

2 ICT Skills 67 Egypt Inspiring a New Generation of Software Developers Egypt s demographic profile is trending toward an increasingly young population: 29 million of the country s citizens are under the age of 18. Ensuring that these young people will be able to get good jobs and participate in the opportunities of the global economy has become one of the country s highest priorities. Yet Egypt s education system struggles to accommodate this large and growing student population. As one way to make students more employable without further burdening an overwhelmed school system, Microsoft partnered with the Ministry of Education to create the Junior Developer Program, which provides middle-school students with the opportunity to learn programming and Web design skills at a young age planting the seeds today for a more capable workforce tomorrow. On a sunny afternoon in Alexandria, Faisal, Jasmine, and Jamila are showing off their latest technology project: a Web site they developed to introduce tourists to their home town. Geared toward their neighbors in the Arab world, the Web site highlights the city s wellknown attractions, such as its historic library and picturesque waterfront, as well as their own picks for Alexandria s best parks, shops, and restaurants. The site is colorful and lively, with music and animation on every page, and if the development team weren t sitting in front of you, surrounded by their proud parents and teachers, you probably wouldn t have guessed that they re all 13 years old. A few months ago, we only knew a little bit about computers, Jasmine says. We knew how to browse the Internet and play games, and that was about it. But now we want to be programmers when we grow up. These shy teenagers were transformed into budding software developers by the Junior Developer Program (JDP), a series of summer technology courses for 12- to 16-yearolds that is being adopted as an elective in middle schools throughout Egypt. Supported by Partners in Learning and implemented by Cairo-based technology training company Key impacts of PiL in Egypt The Junior Developer Program (JDP), created with support from Microsoft and adopted as an elective in middle schools throughout Egypt, promotes advanced technology skills among 12- to 16-year-olds. A growing Innovative Teachers Network, with 6,000 submissions from 13 governorates around the country, includes four regional Innovative Teachers Forum winners.

3 68 Partners in Learning Progress Report 2007 Virgitech, the JDP aims to introduce students to Web development and programming skills at a young age so they will be better prepared for technology jobs in the future. Ensuring that today s kids are prepared for tomorrow s workforce is a crucial issue for Egyptian society. Egypt is home to one of the world s oldest civilizations, yet it has become a very young country demographically: 29 million of its citizens are under the age of 18, and many are worried that there will not be enough jobs to support them. So the country wants to do everything it can to ensure that they have skills that are in demand, both at home and abroad. In 1999, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced a national campaign to use technology to support economic In 1999, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and social development. The country s Ministry announced a national campaign to use of Education complements this ongoing initiative with an aggressive strategy to revamp technology to support economic and social development. The Ministry of Education is the country s education system, including new technology curricula supported by broader complementing this ongoing initiative with teacher training every Egyptian teacher is new technology curricula, broader teacher now required to have an International Computer Driving License (ICDL) certification for training, and an improved infrastructure. basic technology skills and continued work to improve the educational system s technology infrastructure. The country s Ministry of Education is also working to use technology strategically to address the country s long-term challenges. I believe that the future of Egypt lies in technology, says Suzanne Marzouk, general manager of the Ministry s Educational Computer Department. Despite our challenges, we must invest in technology skills if we want our children to be successful. Before approaching Microsoft in 2003 to help develop the JDP, Marzouk first evaluated a small pilot project in the governorate of Al Minya, where teachers and students were taking computer programming classes together and developing small Web sites on their own. She discovered that the benefits of the project extended far beyond basic technology skills. The first thing I noticed was that the children were making nice Web sites, and they could use all the tools very easily. But then I saw that they also had developed strong, creative minds, and they could communicate and collaborate much better than before, says Marzouk. Seeing so many different benefits inspired me to bring these kinds of programs to the rest of Egypt. The Junior Developer Program in Action Launched in 2003 in Cairo and Alexandria, the JDP consists of three summer courses: The first year focuses on computer fundamentals and basic Web development skills (including HTML, Microsoft FrontPage, and JavaScript); the second-year program introduces software development concepts and techniques using the C# programming language; and the third year introduces advanced

4 ICT Skills 69 topics such as the ASP.NET framework for Web services and applications. In each course, students spend two-thirds of their time learning how to use the tools, and the remaining one-third working in teams on a final project, which can be anything from a simple informational Web site to a complex inventory management system. Students are selected for the program based on nominations from their schools, an examination that assesses fundamental computer literacy and basic math and logic skills, and in-person interviews to gauge the students creativity, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills. In 2006, the JDP trained 1,000 students in 12 governorates throughout the country. The program has been offered by the Ministry of Education as a free summer course. But as more teachers, parents, and students have heard about the JDP, demand has grown. Last year, applicants outnumbered available slots by three to one. Inspired by this success, the Ministry decided to take over the investment in the JDP programs, making them available as elective courses during the school year in schools in 20 governorates throughout the country reaching an estimated 10,000 students by It s important for us to be self-sustaining, says Marzouk. It s not possible for us to always depend on Microsoft. We have to depend on ourselves. EGYPT QUICK FACTS A Revolution in Egypt s Schools In the governorates where it has been implemented so far, the JDP has done more than seed a new generation of software developers. Students are inspired and encouraged by their experiences with technology, often creating innovative new programs and Web sites that go beyond their projects requirements. And they ve brought their enthusiasm back to their home schools, where they are helping their teachers make better use of their limited technology resources. Taking on such a challenging curriculum at a young age has also helped JDP students be more motivated and focused in other areas. Teachers have found that these students get better grades, communicate and collaborate well with their peers, and work diligently toward clear goals. One of my students used to be computer-literate, but she would only use the PCs to pass the time and keep herself entertained, says Alexandria teacher Ghada El Sayed Ghonein. After coming back from the JDP, she uses the computer with a sense of purpose she wants to communicate with others and share her ideas. Teachers who participate in the JDP also come home inspired. The JDP has sparked a revolution in our schools, says Wafaa Mohamed Anwar, chief IT inspector for the governorate of Alexandria. Before the program, the computers weren t used very often a teacher might bring her students in for a typing class but now everyone is using them. Program graduates regularly Population: 80.3 million Education System: 36,000 primary and secondary schools across 27 governorates (provinces), serving 16 million students Challenges: Developing valuable job skills among a growing population of young people; increasing effective use of limited ICT resources among teachers Key PiL Programs: Junior Developer Program (JDP), Innovative Teachers Network, Innovative Teachers Forums

5 70 Partners in Learning Progress Report 2007 collaborate with their teachers to develop curriculum materials such as Web sites, PowerPoint presentations, and interactive quizzes. Additionally, the program has inspired many participating teachers to advance their own programming skills and contribute to the Ministry of Education s growing library of educational software. Math and science learning objects created by JDP teachers are now being used in schools throughout the country and are being distributed through Egypt s growing Innovative Teachers Network, and library management software developed by one teacher has been acquired by the World Bank for use in countries throughout the Arabic-speaking world. Although the JDP s long-term aim is to help people pursue careers in technology after graduating from high school, some students are taking advantage of their new skills well ahead of the government s schedule: We had a student in Cairo who programmed a series of multiplication drills and then sold them to dozens of students in his school for one Egyptian pound each (US$0.17), says Marzouk. Conclusion Offering advanced technology courses to very young students is a unique approach to addressing Egypt s workplace needs in the years ahead. In other countries, students might not encounter material this challenging until they are well into secondary school, or even college. But Egypt s education leaders view this approach as crucial to preparing today s students for more advanced training in the future; not only will they have a solid understanding of software development principles that will give them an advantage when they get older, but the program also helps them become more well-rounded and motivated to pursue rewarding careers. When we invest in our kids, show that we care for them, and help them be distinguished in their schools, it changes their personality, says IT inspector Anwar. They get better grades, and they re more active in every other area of school life. And, of course, the program still achieves its original goal: At the start of the 2006 JDP class in Alexandria, only three of the two dozen students wanted to be developers. Today, every single one of them wants a career in technology.