RNP and the Innovation Center for Brazilian Education (CIEB) established a cooperation agreement to enable execution and joint management of a pilot project for implementation of high-speed connectivity solutions and use of digital technologies in about 500 public, urban, state and municipal schools in the Northeast region. The partnership also provides exchange of information and technical knowledge between the two organizations. 

The pilot project integrates the actions of the Programs for Connected Education Innovation (PIEC) of the Ministry of Education and Connected Northeast of the Ministry of Communications. The pilot project is under implementation in six municipal networks, members of four state basic education networks, and will extend over the next two years. The involved cities and states are: Caicó (RN), Juazeiro (BA), Campina Grande (PB), Mossoró (RN), Caruaru (PE), Petrolina (PE), Bahia, Paraíba, Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte. 

Among the first actions, which have already been planned, there are the development of joint projects and studies, as well as the availability of content, methodologies and tools that can support the public networks in the pedagogical use of the technologies on four fronts: vision, qualification, digital educational resources and infrastructure. These four dimensions compose the concept of CIEB´s Connected School and are the basis for PIEC - Connected Education Innovation Program.  A schedule with five webinars has also been established for the managers of the participating public networks. The on-line meetings will address the methodologies and the tools developed by CIEB. 

Production of valuable knowledge

"This technical cooperation agreement with RNP will generate highly relevant knowledge, methodologies, parameters and data, because they will be able to support the building and/or the improvement of national public policies on educational innovation, connectivity and the use of digital technologies in schools. As an organization that aims to promote a systemic transformation of the Brazilian public education, we understand that there is high affinity between the project and our cause", Gabiela Gambi, executive manager of CIEB, declares. 

Eduardo Cezar Grizendi, Engineering and Operations director at RNP, also highlights the relevance of the project and its implications for the public education, and adds that it will also provide qualification of specialized human resources to use these technologies, contributing to important culture change of the public education managers in the public network, which is already in progress. 

Both also highlight the role of the pilot project in the provision of networks with conditions to enable quality hybrid education in 2021, approach that will be necessary to meet the biosafety protocols and support the students and the teachers in the resumption of the pedagogical projects, considering any needs of recovery and review of knowledge and skills. 

Source: CIEB, with information from RNP.