Yemen Ministry of Education and Microsoft sign 'Partners in Learning' MoU

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The agreement introduces a number of different programs that will develop IT education in schools, help provide cost effective software and provide learning resources for communities throughout the Republic. The Partners in Learning agreement will run over five years.

Education Minister in Yemen, A.D. Abdul Sallam Mohamed Al Jawfy said: 'We are very pleased to sign this important agreement with Microsoft. This program will ensure that our teachers, students and school leaders have access to the highest standards of IT education, which will enable our young people to develop the IT skills they will need when they enter the job market.'

Abdullatif Almulla, General Manager of Microsoft South Gulf signed the Partners in Learning MOU on the behalf of Microsoft. He commented: 'Microsoft believes that human development is the basis for economic growth, and the private sector has a role to play in helping develop that human talent to its full potential. We will work closely with our government partners to develop a localized, sustainable program to build IT capacity at the school level for teachers and students.

Microsoft's Partners in Learning initiative, launched globally in September 2003, recognizes the educational value of technology in schools. Global in scope and local in implementation, this initiative provides a significant investment of software and more than $253 million in cash grants worldwide over the next five years to deliver ICT skills training and technical support to the IT environment at school level. Partners in Learning also includes significantly lower prices for Microsoft's core educational desktop software for students and teachers. Partners in Learning is implemented in conjunction with government agencies, local businesses and non-government organizations in each country, as appropriate, to ensure that the program meets the needs of local communities.

Under the memorandum, Microsoft will collaborate with the Ministry of Education to develop an IT curriculum for secondary level students and classes from grades 10 to 12. They will also work together to set up Microsoft IT Academies across the Republic. These IT Academies will serve as training centers for teachers to learn the IT curriculum, and also provide support for teachers. Community Technology Learning Centers will also be established, to provide IT training to the wider community.

To help schools to meet the cost of PCs, Microsoft is also introducing the Fresh Start for Donated PC program which will provide a free, licensed copy of Windows 98 or 2000 operating system for each Pentium II or lower PC donated for use in schools. Microsoft will also offer schools free upgrades to Windows and reduced pricing on other office software.

'Partners in Learning supports our long-term vision for the education marketplace, empowering teachers and students to achieve their fullest potential by providing for comprehensive IT skills development and greater access to the latest computer technologies. In the Arab World we have Partners in Learning programs in Jordan Egypt, Morocco and Lebanon, and now we are very pleased to be able to make the same contribution to the development of Yemeni children,' said Amna Al Nakhi, Academic Programs Manager, South Gulf.

Partners in Learning is central to Microsoft's vision of helping individuals, businesses and institutions realize their potential through the use of our tools and technologies and it is critical to the company's long-term success.