Schools and teachers are asked to integrate Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in their everyday practice. It is often argued that technology in education will make schools more productive and efficient, improve teaching and learning, provide authentic and engaging learning experiences, and better prepare students for the workforce. International organisations such as the International Society for Technology in Education and UNESCO have established guides, plans, and standards for the use of ICTs in education and training.

empowerICT™ is an evolutionary programme designed to empower teachers to integrate ICT into the classroom. It provides teachers with professional development opportunities and the ongoing mentoring and support to select and integrate instructional activities that integrate ICT outcomes with subject matter outcomes.

This project is the result of collaboration between Ministries of Education, local education agencies, schools (including principals, teachers and students), Knowledge Director, a team of international and local experts, and Microsoft. The project is managed and funded by Microsoft for selected countries.

Objectives and outputs
empowerICT™ is a combination of professional development and collaborative curriculum development program that focuses on preparing teachers to integrate ICT in teaching and learning in primary and secondary education. The set of tentative goals for empowerICT™, as they have been developed thus far are:

• To empower teachers to integrate ICT into their classroom

• To promote collaborative curriculum development

• To improve teaching and learning in participating schools

• To facilitate reform in education policy, curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment

• To promote systemic, systematic, and sustainable change in education