Samsung Africa has unveiled a unique initiative they are calling the Samsung Internet Schools Programme. The initial programme will span five African countries: South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan. In time it will branch out into other African countries too. The school is a mobile, solar-powered, independent classroom housed in a container.

Housed in a 12 metre shipping container, the facility will predominantly make use of 3G technology for the majority of the technical gadgets it will use to teach learners.

After making its debut at Katlehong Technical High School, the container will then travel to Qunu in the Eastern Cape and the home of Nelson Mandela.

Speaking about the container school, a concept that has been used already, Samsung’s Ntutule Tshenye told the Mail & Guardian:

It is unique in that it is packaged and configured differently. The concept of the container is not new but most of these are not solar-powered and do not offer the connectivity and technology that we have.

According to Samsung’s official statement on the schools, they are hoping to reach 2,5 million learners in the next five years to 2015.

Samsung’s managing director of Electronics in Africa, Deon Liebenberg, explained that the initiative is about specifically targeting the remote and rural areas:

Electricity remains Africa’s largest economic challenge with the level of penetration lower than 25% in most rural areas. This lack of power isolates communities and limits their access to education and information, both of which are key to fast-tracking a nation’s development.

The container will be able to accommodate 21 learners and a teacher and will offer content for grades zero through 12.

Specially designed folding solar panels provide enough power for up to nine hours a day, and for roughly one and half days should there not be any sunlight.

Of course the technology is key to the project: a 50-inch electronic E-board, Samsung Notebooks and Netbooks, as well as solar-powered Netbooks and Galaxy Tablets, will be stock standard.

There will also be a WI-fi camera so that the facility can be remotely monitored and technical support given should it be necessary. On top of that, an energy-efficient fridge, a UPS system, router and a server will be fitted.

Google has something similar which they have called the Google internet bus. Since hitting the road in rural India in February 2009, it has covered over 43 000km and passed through 120 towns in 11 states.

[Source: Mail&Guardian]