RELPE Reinforces the Importance of Regional Contributions

After four days of work, Red Latinamericana de Portales Educativos (RELPE – Latin American Network of Educational Portals) concluded its 2008 technical meeting with the approval of an intense work plan which will reinforce the relevance of the Region’s portals and the platform that has been created to share educational information and resources.

 

Elena García, RELPE Technical
Coordinator, led the meeting that took place at FUNGLODE Headquarters in Santo Domingo, in which 16 of the Network’s 19 member states participated.

 

The Head Technicians of the official educational portals of each country attended the annual meeting, and compiled the plan of action presented to the Advisory Board of the organization. The ministers of education distributed these plans to the member states.

 

This was the first time that Santo Domingo was the headquarters of this event that concluded in the approval of an act that defines the priorities each team will address to achieve its objectives. From this meeting came the renewal of a working agreement with the Institute for Development and Research in Canada — which has already financed two projects — concerning collaboration with regard to education and technology. One of the two projects
allows for all portal contents to be transported by an easy to use devise like a CD or USB. The goal is to bring such projects to schools that do not have connectivity, as is the case for many schools in Latin American countries.

 

“It’s a tool that’s almost available,” explained García. “The last test is currently being done, and here at this meeting, countries interested in
using it have indicated their desire to do so.”

 

As a result of the meeting, RELPE also assumed the job of monitoring goals related to the 2008-2010 Information Society, together with the Observatorio para la Sociedad de la Información de Latinoamérica (Observatory for the Latin American Information Society) organized by the Centro de Estudios Económicos para América Latina (CEPAL
– Center of Economic Studies for Latin America). The two organisms will decide which indicators they will utilize to monitor and establish the advancement of educational initiatives in the Region.

 

Additionally, the realization of a training seminar in Zaragoza, Spain this year, as part of Virtual Educa was approved, as well as the continuation of projects sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank. This will be the
first year that a meeting of Virtual Educa will be organized in coordination with RELPE.

 

During the forum, member states also agreed to work collectively with the Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo Educativo (Institute for Research and Educational Development), dedicated to the use of new technologies which supports the Organización de Estados Ibero-Americanos (Organization of Ibero-American States), which
seeks to promote research in the area of education in all countries throughout the Region.

 

García highlighted the advancement achieved during the conference. “Now with approval from the ministers,” he stated, “we have free range to work during the 2008 year.” He also detailed the Latin American Network’s gains since its establishment in 2004. At the beginning it represented
3 member states; today it represents 19.

 

According to García, the effect the Network has had on education is evident in countries like Bolivia, a country that last year inaugurated its portal which contains nearly 8,000 features, thanks to material collected previously by other countries.

 

The Dominican Secretary