First Middle East Partnership InitiativeElectronic-Learning Classroom opens in Sana’a [Archives:2004/727/Local News]

Sana'a, April 6, 2004- Yemen's Minister of Education, Dr. Abdulssalam Al-Jawfi, and US Ambassador, H.E. Edmund Hull, jointly dedicated the first classroom realized through the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) e-learning for Yemen. The first in a series of electronic-learning activities took place at Al-Quds Secondary School for Girls, at a total cost of 1.6 million USD from MEPI. The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Education, Dr. Abdusalam Al-Jawfi, Minister of State and Mayor of Sana'a, Ahmed Al-Kohlani, and representatives of the Ministries of Planning and Development and Telecommunications.
Dr. Al-Jawfi explained the importance of incorporating computers into schools. The opening of this first class comes as part of plan to install similar classes in a number of schools, 10 of which are funded by US Development Agency. The Minister stated that he expects that this will be the beginning of US assistance in implementing the plan in the governorates of the Republic coinciding with the intention to make use of computers accessible to all schools. The Minister urged the Americans to increase support in this field.
The US Ambassador, H.E. Edmund Hull, pointed out that internet services and electronic-learning have become essentials to achieve development in the 21st century. The Ambassador cited Malaysia, India and Singapore, which benefited tremendously from information technology in facilitating their roads toward development. He added that Yemen has chosen its road toward economic, social and development and to improve living condition for its people. In this respect, it is very important that Yemen joins in the information revolution which is the best method to connect the people with each other throughout the Republic and to bypass the difficulties associated with geography. Electronic-learning is considered the first step to be utilized in the development of Yemen. The Ambassador concluded his statement by congratulating Al-Quds High School for its victory during a fierce competition to obtain this project and saying that the students would definitely benefit from this new capability amid a globalized market.
The Cultural Attache of the US Embassy distributed a statement clarifying the capabilities, governorates and schools included in the US electronic-learning project, as follows:
The schools in Sana'a are:
1- Al-Qods Alsharif located in Al-Wahda Neighborhood
2- Al-Shaheed Al-Loqaya at Al-Loqaya Square
3- Al-Shaheed Sinan Hatroum in Sa'awan
4- Fatima Al-Zahra'a in Al-Rawdha
The schools in Aden are:
1- Ma'arab Secondary School for Boys in Al-Maalla
2- Bakatheer Secondary School for Girls in Crater
3- Mugama Al-Shab Al-Tarbouy for Girls in Little Aden
4- Abdul raheem Al-Ahdal for Boys in Dar Saad
5- Batheeb Secondary School for Girls in Al-Mansoora
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