Intel aids tech education in Arab region

On the education front, Intel will be working with local governments and Ministries of Education through the recently formed Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to train more than 2 million Arab teachers by 2011.

Training will occur throughout Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen.

The program aims at developing Arab talent and improving education in the region. "This is a prime example of the potential of public-private partnerships in changing the lives of people, particularly through the adoption of technology," said Barrett in a statement.

Sheikh Mohammed's foundation was established last year to build a knowledge-based society in the Arab region by improving education, encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, investing in scientific research and creating new employment opportunities for youth.

The Intel Teach program trains educators to integrate computers and other technology into their curriculums to better teach their students. More than 400,000 teachers in the region have already graduated from the program.

Barrett said Intel is also broadening its relationship with Injaz al-Arab, a non-profit economic/education organization, by pledging to donate a thousand hours of training time. Injaz al-Arab was established in 2004 with a goal of helping a million Arab youths by 2015.

Barrett is traveling throughout the Middle East in his role as chairman of a United Nations panel on technology, and on behalf of the Intel World Ahead Program, a $1 billion, five-year initiative to improve education, healthcare, entrepreneurship and government services by accelerating access to computers, connectivity and localized Internet content.

- Nicolas Mokhoff
EE Times