On Tuesday, president Thabo Mbeki launched the first of South Africa's six new Nepad e-Schools. The launch was part of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) e-schools project, which aims to increase the use of technology in education and to increase information technology (IT) skills.

EvaluNet is a proud partner in the Oracle Consortium, one of five public-private partnerships from the private sector taking part in the in the NEPAD e-Schools initiative. A total of 96 schools in 12 African countries are being equipped with ICT-enabled tools for education and health. An estimated 150,000 learners and teachers will be engaged over the next 12 months.

The first school to be equipped in South Africa with an HP computer lab, complete with servers, personal computers, printers, faxes, scanners, copiers and wireless connectivity, was the Maripe Secondary School at Bushbuckridge in Limpopo.

EvaluNet was represented at the launch by PRO Adrian Marnewick. "I am greatly satisfied with the progress the e-Schools initiative is experiencing in Africa. The success of the project will be determined by the commitment each partner and stakeholder brings to the initiative. With over 12 years of educational software excellence, EvaluNet is proud to be a stakeholder in this initiative and will continue to serve the African community through the Oracle Consortium," said Marnewick at the launch.

EvaluNet has reaffirmed its commitment to the Nepad e-School initiative in South Africa with the introduce of EvaluNet XT to the Oracle software basket.

MD Dereck Marnewick said: "Due to the highly flexible features offered in EvaluNet XT, our software can be used in any country and in any language throughout Africa."

See also Mbeki launches SA's first e-School
See also Oracle Consortium NEPAD e-Schools solution