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direqlearn is
your Technology in Education solutions provider, supporting
education ministries, school networking and community
organisations and schools, with the integration of
technology in the teaching and learning process. Read
more here.
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June
2003
10 June 2003
African ICT in education leaders present to Nigerian NCC.
DireqLearn Nigeria CEO, Mr. Denis Brandjes, participated in a sector presentation on the use of ICTs in education and its confluence
with the communications regulatory and policy environment in Nigeria. The presentation to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)
was led by SchoolNet Nigeria head, Mr. Olaolu Sasore, and included participation
from DireqLearn, and SchoolNet Africa champion, Ms. Shafika Isaacs.
Key issues presented included Tariffs on ICT equipment, E-rates on telecommunications and Internet access, Privatisation and liberalisation
used to benefit the education sector, and School networking as a universal service obligation for telecommunication operators.
The presentation was well received by NCC officials, and resulted in the formation of a working group led by NCC and SchoolNet Nigeria
to pursue the issues relating to telecommunications in favour of the education sector.
7 June 2003
DireqLearn shares platform with FOSSFA at AITEC Kenya Exhibition
The Annual AITEC Kenya Exhibition is a highlight on the annual IT and Telecommunications
Calender in East Africa. This year's event was held at KICC in Nairobi, Kenya from 5 - 7 June 2003. The Free and Open
Source software movement was represented on a platform organised by four FOSSFA members, namely DireqLearn, Circuits and Packets
Communications, AITEC and Computer Aid International.
The FOSSFA members demonstrated thin-client linux-based technology, based on the DireqOpenLab solution encompassing the
DireqPortal and its educational solutions, to schools in the environs of Nairobi.
There was great enthusiasm with the epitome being a meeting with the Kenyan Minister of Education, Prof. Saitoti, who
invited FOSSFA and its partners to be more engaged in developing and deploying solutions for educational
purposes in the continent.
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May
2003
21 May 2003
DireqLearn's Brandjes participates in UNESCO specialist workshop.
UNESCO has increasingly become interested in the use of ICTs in support of persons with disabilities. As such, UNESCO
convened a meeting of 14 international experts to contribute to defining its role and work in the field. DireqLearn CEO and Senior
Consultant, Mr. Denis Brandjes was invited to participate in the Paris workshop held between 20 - 21 May 2003.
DireqLearn is a keen advocate on the use of ICTs for special needs youth, and has implemented solutions in several schools. Brandjes also
acted as senior consultant on a research paper for UNESCO and SchoolNet Africa.
entitled 'ICTs for Special Needs Education' completed in 2002.
9 May 2003
DireqLearn Nigeria exhibits at CTO 2003 in Lagos, Nigeria
DireqLearn was proud to participate in the annual CTO exhibition held at Muson Center, Onikan, Lagos from 5 - 9 May 2003. The CTO
Exhibition is the leading annual IT industry event in Nigeria. DireqLearn's presence was headed by COO, Mr. Quintin Spies, and supported
by several staff members. DireqLearn showcased the distinctive DireqOpenLab as a solution for both the education sector and Internet
Cafe market.
DireqLearn's presence was supported by IT supplier, Microdevices, who provided the computer equipment, and enhanced by the presence of
SchoolNet Nigeria, who could testify to the effectiveness of DireqLearn's solutions in addition to promoting its own vision.
2 May 2003
DireqLearn hosts iCafe and demonstrate ICT in education solutions at
Botswana Workshop.
DireqLearn was proud to be associated with The ICTs in African Schools
Workshop for Practitioners and Policy Makers held in
Gaberone, Botswana, from 27 April to 2 May 2003. The workshop was hosted
by SchoolNet Africa, The Commonwealth
of Learning, the International Institute for
Communication and Development and the World Bank
Institute.
Over 250 workshop participants included representatives of schoolnet
organisations and ministries of education from 30 African countries. The
highly successful workshop focused on issues of both a policy and
implementation nature.
DireqLearn partners included AfriTelCo (Internet Connectivity), The Big
Picture, RPC Data, Samsat, Mindset and
LearnThings. An iCafe based on the
DireqOpenLab solution and powered by AfriTelco gave delegates Internet
connectivity, while educational content from DireqLearn, LearnThings,
The Big Picture and Mindset gave insight into world-class educational
technology solutions.
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April
2003
30 April 2003
DireqLearn staff present on controversial topics at Botswana Workshop.
DireqLearn has not only played an important role in the provision of
ICafe services at The ICTs in African Schools Workshop for Practitioners
and Policy Makers held in Gaberone. In addition, its leadership in the
area of ICTs in education was recognised in the roles played by key
staff members in the conference proceedings.
CEO and Senior Consultant, Denis Brandjes, played the key facilitation
and presentation role in the workshop focused on the use of Older and
Refurbished computers in education in Africa. It was clear that there
was definitely a role for such computers, but within a specific context
and parameters. A key outcome was the call for a million computers for
African schools, and the establishment of refurbishment facilities
throughout Africa.
Education Manager, Reza Bardien, chaired the highlight workshop on Free
and Open Source vs. Proprietary software. Following a presentation on
the research by Bridges.org and SchoolNet Africa, an engaging debate between a Microsoft
representative and Bildad Kagai,
Chairman of Free and Open Source Software Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA)
took place. It was clear that there is a
growing and significant role for use of free and open source software in
education in Africa.
More information on the workshop, debates and research from the
SchoolNet Africa site
18 April 2003
 DireqLearn becomes member of FOSSFA
DireqLearn is proud to announce that it has become one of the first institutional
members of the Free and Open Source Software Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA).
Says FOSSFA Chairman, Mr. Bildad Kagai, "In Africa, we see the value of open source in broad terms.
Open source guarantees us opportunities to develop local programs built by Africans for use in Africa.
We are working with educators to introduce open source into schools, where young people can learn to use,
maintain, modify and improve computer software. We envision a future in which governments and the private
sector embrace open source software and enlist local experts in adapting and developing appropriate tools,
applications and infrastructures for an African technology renaissance. We see an opportunity for Africa
de-colonizing itself and narrowing the digital divide".
DireqLearn subscribes to this vision, particularly for the education sector, and endeavours to support FOSSFA in its work.
11
April 2003 - DireqOpenlab 2.0 to debut in June
2003
DireqLearn
has finalised the release date of DireqOpenlab 2.0,the
next iteration of its Linux-based thin-client educationally-rich
computer lab solution. DireqOpenlab 2.0 will include
at least the following new features:
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A brand new, very easy to use and DireqLearn-unique
administration program, known as OLAD, which makes
all the standard administration tasks a simple matter
of point and click. It also permanently removes the
need for actions as root.
- A new GUI design focused more on teachers and learners
- A complete open-source object-pascal development environment
- Support for 3D acceleration on clients with 3D accelerator
cards
- X Free86 4.0 on the clients, can be easily stepped down
to X 3.3.6 for clients that do not have X 4 supported cards.
- Bonding technology ensuring that over 50 thin-clients can
now be supported on one server
- at least 43 New educational programs, and a new 'EduPortal'
10
April 2003 - DireqLearn celebrates D-Day B-Day
Over
40 friends, partners, clients and staff of DireqLearn
converged on the South African office to celebrate
a DireqLearn-Day BirthDay party. The event celebrated
the recent achievements of DireqLearn on the continent,
and its partnerships that have helped make it possible.
In
addition, DireqLearn co-founder and Director, Andy
Kiloh, celebrated his 50th birthday, noting that
he now had now completed 18262 days on this planet,
and was now counting down to his 100th! Linux Guru,
AJ Venter also celebrated his 23rd
birthday.
4 April 2003 - Dinaledi Clinic powered by DireqLearn
DireqLearn
held prime position at the recent Dinaledi Autumn
Clinic held in Cape Town from 31 March - 4 April
2003. Dinaledi is a South African Department of Education
intervention to improve Maths and Science in 102
South African secondary schools. The Autumn Clinic
helps to create an
opportunity for Mathematics and Physical Science education
professionals to interact and motivate one another to become
outstanding champions of the Dinaledi Project in the classroom,
the district and province.This second Autumn Clinic was held
under the theme of ´Seizing the Opportunities of the
African Century"
DireqLearn,
which launched its DireqOpenLab solution
at last year's event, was fully represented at the
clinic and hosted an iCafe for teacher delegates.
The Internet Connectivity was kindly provided by InfoSat In
addition it demonstrated Linux-based alternative
computer lab solutions, and the
MindSet
Educational Network which is available
from DireqLearn. Its offerings were
complemented by a demonstration of
Lego Dacta Learning Concepts including
Lego Mindstorms.
Take
a look at the photos of the event here
1
April 2003 - DireqLearn
Opens for Business in Kenya
DireqLearn
is proud to announce that it has opened up for business
in Kenya, in order to service the East African region.
'Although the business is new to this region, and
we are initially limited in size and scope, DireqLearn
has huge expectations in how it can deploy solutions
in meeting educational objectives' says COO, Ms.
Linda Widmark.
The
operation is being headed by experienced DireqLearner,
Linda Widmark, based in Nairobi. Linda can be contacted
at or
at .
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March
2003
31
March 2003 - DireqLearn
Team strengthened by addition of Reza Bardien.
DireqLearn
SA announces the addition of Mr. Reza Bardien to
its Johannesburg-based team. Reza will take on the
role of Education and Training Manager, responsible
for the content and teacher development desk at DireqLearn.
Reza
was previously the ICT facilitator at Alexander Sinton
High School in Cape Town, where he was involved in
innovative use of ICT in a resource-poor school.
He was also previously Chairman of the Western
Cape Schools' Network, and currently co-ordinator
of the African
Teachers Network.
27
March 2003
DireqLearn's
Denis Brandjes spoke at ea.telecom 2003 in Nairobi.
The
East African Telecommunications & Broadcasting
Exhibition & Conference was held at the Grand
Regency Hotel, Nairobi, from 26-28 March 2003. This
AITEC Conference had the theme: Mobilising East Africa's
telecommunications sector as an engine for economic
growth.
Denis spoke on the topic: Building Infrastructure for Education
during the afternoon session on Thursday 27 March 2003. More
info at
Read
the ea.telecom 2003 speech here.
20
March 2003 - Direqlearn
Wins Nigerian Business
SA-based
education technology solutions provider, DireqLearn,
has formally signaled its entry into Nigeria. Direqlearn
has been named prime contractor in the delivery of
SchoolNet Nigeria’s Digi-Net Project. Read
the whole highlight here.
Direqlearn
Nigeria was Launched today.Check out the Press Release
and other information here. Check
out the photos here.
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February
2003
28
February 2003
 DireqLearn
Nigeria bids farewell to stalwart and Senior Project
Manager, Linda Widmark. Linda was key in starting
the DireqLearn Nigeria operation with key focus on
the SchoolNet Nigeria DigiNet Project management.
With the operations now safely transferred into the
hands of COO, Mr. Quintin Spies, Linda Widmark has
made her move from her Abuja home. But she is not
lost to the DireqLearn family, as she prepares to
head up the Kenyan company.
24
February 2003
 DireqLearn
SA has been appointed the sole logistics provider
to Mindset,
the innovative new educational broadcast service.
Mindset is a bouquet of TV channels - dedicated to
education. Right now Mindset focuses on English,
Mathematics, Science and Biology for grades 10, 11
and 12, as is supported by print and web resources.
DireqLearn
is the sole provider of Mindset into schools, including
equipment, training and interactive community response
via Mindsetters. Want Mindset? Get hold of DireqLearn!
With
this appointment, DireqLearn has secured the services
of Mr. Mark
Shelton, a veteran in the satellite broadcast
industry. Mark has spent a majority of his working
life with pay-tv service, DSTV, in a variety of roles.
As Mindset is broadcast on the DSTV platform, Mark
is the right person to ensure DireqLearn's leadership
in support of Mindset.
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January
2003
24
January 2003
DireqLearn
Nigeria is proud to announce the appointment of His
Majesty Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, the 21st Obi
of Onitsha, as Chairman of DireqLearn Nigeria. Read
the full biography of the Obi here.
4
January 2003
DireqLearn
South Africa has moved offices - although just upstairs
in the same building. Get the full contact details here.
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| News
Headlines |
11
April 2003
DireqLearn
has finalised the release date of DireqOpenlab 2.0,the
next iteration of its Linux-based thin-client educationally-rich
computer lab solution. Read more here.
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10
April 2003
Over
40 friends, partners, clients and staff of DireqLearn
converged on the South African office to celebrate
a DireqLearn-Day BirthDay party. Read the rest here.
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4
April 2003
DireqLearn
held prime position at the recent Dinaledi Autumn
Clinic held in Cape Town from 31 March - 4 April
2003. Dinaledi is a South African Department of Education
intervention to improve Maths and Science in...Read
More Here.
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