Connected Schools Programme This Programme seeks to provide secure high speed connectivity between all participants in the education system and the infrastructure within schools, administrative locations and associated facilities (such as libraries). This connectivity will enable and support the hosting of software applications (e.g. learning management systems) and content (such as websites / web‐based repositories) that would facilitate operational efficiencies and effectiveness. This Programme will create an enabling environment in the education system that will encourage creativity, innovation, critical thinking, communication, research and decision making. This connectivity and infrastructure will create smart partnerships that provide for national electronic networking, global collaboration and comprehensive stakeholder participation. It will enable the networking of the private and public sector educational facilities through the upgrade of the education backbone (EDUNET). Finally, it will facilitate the development of appropriate standards and protocols within the sector. Smart Education Programme The Smart Education Programme addresses the need to incorporate ICTs in the educational system, within the classroom, into administrative functions, and to facilitate the information sharing and the policy / decision making involved in the management of the education. This Programme focuses on three areas which are described below: ICT in Education The aim of this initiative is to build human capacity by providing educators, practitioners, teachers, office staff and other stakeholders with the requisite skills and competencies to use ICT as a tool to enhance the quality of the teaching and learning environment, and to improve administrative and management operations. It also seeks to generate innovative educational practices through the use of modern technologies, and to support enhanced knowledge management. It will enable the integration of ICT into the education system, and harmonize activities, approaches and standards in the use of ICT in this sector. It will involve the reform of curriculum, pedagogy and content for teaching and learning. Furthermore, it would involve the creation of mechanisms to enable continuous lifelong learning and facilitate specialized training to align with the needs of the marketplace. The Programme will have a special focus on capacity building and the training of key stakeholders. In particular it will support the empowerment of youth and adults towards self improvement through ICT skills training. [24]