D.Net's Computer Learning Programme (http://www.clp.net.bd) has received Manthan South Asia Award 2009 under the category of e-Education . Other three initiatives from Bangladesh also received award this time. This is an award fort he programme which is for empowering students and teachers in Bangladesh through ICT and Computer education. CLP coordinator Mr. Ajoy Kumar Bose was present in the Award giving ceremony of the Manthan Award South Asia 2009 and received the Award.

The goal of the Manthan Award South Asia is to showcase the content that already exists and thus demonstrate the richness and diversity of content creativity to those interested in understanding and planning the Global Information Society.Manthan award was initiated in 2003 by Digital Empowerment Foundation. There are 13 categories for Manthan award and D.Net's CLP applied for e-Education.



Computer Literacy Programme promotes knowledge and usage of computers and information technology among the underprivileged youths in Bangladesh. Initiated in 2004, CLP has established 109 computer literacy centers (CLCs) in 39districts as of December, 2009 across Bangladesh in collaboration with Volunteers Association for Bangladesh-New Jersey (VAB-NJ), Bank Asia Ltd, Hossain Trust and individual donors. Through CLP 257 teachers have already been trained and over 20,000 underprivileged youths and community people have been graduated.

D.Net provides at least 4 PCs to each CLC including a printer, Internet modem and other accessories. D.Net also conducts a two weeks training for two designated instructors from each CLC. Apart from his, D.Net monitors the programme implementation process and provide technical assistances.

Each batch comprises 8-10 students and receives40 hours structured training on Esho Computer Shekhi (a practice-focused curriculum in Bangla under the guidance of renowned academic personalities in Bangladesh).While students receive training free of charge, teachers and best students of each batch are provided financial support (Tk 1000 for teachers & Tk 200for student) for their efforts and Internet bill during one year agreement period. Besides this, best students also get the scope to work as a teacher assistant for the particular course.

The primary objective of CLP is to bridge this digital divide by ensuring access to computers and other resources of information technology. Another objective is to leverage these resources to modernise the instruction and learning tactics of other subjects such as science, mathematics, geography and every day English. The ultimate goal is to create a skilled workforce capable of utilising the global opportunities generated by information technology.

Volunteers Association for Bangladesh (VAB), New Jersey, USA,a non-profit organisation of non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) coined the idea of CLP and they teamed up with D.Net to provide financial assistance and distribute PC accessories to establish CLC across Bangladesh.

Following the footsteps of NRBs, Bangladeshi individuals, corporate and development partners also came forward to expand the programme through their financial contribution. Most of them are considering this contribution under corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme. D.Net is implementing their initiatives through CLP-Bangladesh project under Pallitathya-Bikash programme.

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