.NET C#/VB.NET Project in the Pipeline for Programmers who may be interested

I have been thinking about how I could use my Software/Web Development skills to help the development of education in Nigeria and I came up with an idea that would require I solicit the help of other programmers out there who would like to help by contributing their time and effort to improvement life in schools in Nigeria and potentially around africa and worldwide.

We know that one of the major issues in many of the public schools around the country is funding. Most schools still remain in situations where student data is being handled the old fashioned way ( stacks of paper work). My idea is one where we (I and every other programmer interested in working on this project) put together basically an open source School Management application that can work to help schools log data on students, process student records, allow students access to their information from anywhere, allow schools and teachers communicate teaching tools with students, allow teachers create course portals where they can exchange ideas with students and basically other teachers.
 
We have been crying for years that the educational system is at this time, not close to where it ought to be, in Nigeria and even in most of Africa, and I believe that having an open source system like that will not only help schools but also allow people outside of the country get easier access to information on schools in remote areas through this portal.

So far, this is the idea I have. If You are interested in the program please post and we can use this thread to discuss how to handle the project and get the solution started. Since
 

I understand your concerns @Femi. But I do believe there are some, yes, maybe a few decent people out there in the country who are not motivated by money. The project is one that could be used both ways. Even after building the solution, it could be marketed as needed but that, to me is a long ways away. Right now, this is more one way for programmers to put their skills to work when it comes to developing the country and our education system the best we know how.

Nigeria is developing by the day, only a couple of years ago, we could not imagine people in Nigeria would have access to the kind of technology they do today. The one good thing with this sort of project is that while this focuses on software needs, there are other people focused on providing such needs as power to schools and internet access as well ie. OLPC project.
 
Having a solution available to be used when the other issues get fixed is a good way to go instead of waiting on the sidelines for magic to happen BEFORE we embark on contributing the much we can through such projects as this.
 
Yes, MS office suite can help schools maintain information but I am almost certain schools would appreciate a free application to deal with their need than spend so much money on acquiring such tools as Microsoft office. A Free tool that is better tailored to their needs seems more logical. We are speaking here of the public school system that barely gets enough money from the government to pay it's staff.
 
So yes, there are so many walls to block schools from benefitting from this project, at this time, but that does not mean it will always exist. I am optimistic the country is moving forward, even if only in my dreams and I believe we as developers can cut our way into the process through projects such as this and more.

This sort of project, depending on how many programmers get involved can take upwards of 6 months to a year to complete. Once it is completed, Individual programmers can customize the final solution to individual schools as needed. I imagine being able to get a contract from the Federal Ministry of Education, to handle the IT needs of individual schools or even schools in a certain state or region using this software. Schools can submit requests for change for new additions that can be easily made to the main framework. And so this solution is and will be desirable in the future.

On the other end of this, this project can serve as resume boosters for IT guys and gals out there who  are looking for an great project to add to their resume for potential employers. More and more employers are looking to hire candidates who work pretty well under minimum supervsion and able to work remotely on projects. This would be a very good way to learn for many.


For a project like this, We would need, Web Developers, Software Developers, DBAs, Network Administrators, Project Managers etc

Welcome @CPrompt,  Please introduce yourself and tell us more of what skills to bring to the table

Hello all,

I am impressed by the thought process of KoboJunkie and I would like to enlist myself as one of the
possible contributors to this projectors if that is OK.

My major specialities revolve around Enterprise Software Development but unfortunately I have only
tested myself with Java (althought I am in the process of learning C#) but I hope I can be of some
assistance as I also have experience as a DBA and DB Developer with various DBMS such as MySQL and
MS SQL Server and Oracle and even SQL Lite.

I can also perform Software Testing!

SO any sort of assistance I can give will be given happily.

I fear the problem for Open-Source is that it simply can not thrive in a developing country for the mere fact that a
people must be comfortable before they can contemplate even developing software and listing them under a license that states that your code is redistributable for NO charge at all! It is a difficult concept to grasp!

For example, the person who worked with the scheduling mechanism module in Liunux was a zoo-keeper in Australia who created the module( I hear he wasn't even a programmer when he started looking at linux code) and received nothing for it.
He just liked 'playing with things'.

Its very difficult to 'play with things' in this country when NEPA can strike an any time, when you are thinking of how to get to work the next morning( on time and not get robbed in a bus) and how not to get robbed that night!

Ironically enough I don't think its software developers that can establish Open Source in this Country.

It's Everyone else!

My email address: kanirip@gmail.com

Take Care.

K

I am in but how do you intend making it open source when its a .NET C#/ VB.NET project.

Get a .NET host cost huge money .

This is what i've been hungry for since (spend my life coding). having read this post, i decided to register and make my own contribution of being part of this project. 

I also promise to be of help (provide books) to any person who wants to be part of this, but doesn't have any programming knowledge. I love this idea.

symccord@yahoo.com

I think the problem with lots of IT guys in naija is the lack of materials. I truly set out myself to help the IT guys in naija to develop mostly in programming. If you look around to most of the IT guys in Nigeria, you’ll discover that 85% of them are in Networking and Hardware repair, not even in a nut shell because we all want to make quick money, and not wanting to spend our money and time in what we can’t get immediate result in. You mustn't be a professional before you start making money with programming or involving yourself in a big programming. Once you start, you will see the evolution of yourself in programming. I want us to thinks more in programming because is more fun to see people using what you developed to solve their problems and more.
“Look at the end product”

I have lots of books to help with for now.

nice idea, i am an experienced web developer, programmer. fluent in vb/vb.net, mysql, php etc. i'll like to be part of the project. you can request for preview of some of my projects.

Regards,
Ottun L.O.
+234-805-856-2159

Dear Agod  ,
I am Cprompt as I said I want to lean more from you.
How do we see.
you can reach me via rolandc52002@yahoo.com
or
08038527722

I found a cool Project management application that happens to be free and online. Please check it out as it would go a long way in helping us with the project. If you  have time, please check it out

http://www.viewpath.com/

good, i've seen the site (i.e. viewpath.net) and i've registered with the site but how do i locate the team on this project or haven't u create one? i don't know how to send invitation from the site yet  because i've not really gone through it but in case u need my email: lookman_ngr@yahoo.co.uk

Good talk, Kobojunkie. I have wanted to reply you since but I keep procrastinating. I did something close to what you are talking about. Though I had the private schools in mind. It did not go as I hoped because I was in the North them and those kind of things are not appreciated over there. What I had in mind is very close so yours, but in some sence your idea is kind of super set of mine, though where mine focussed is not where yours focussed. Though I gave my source code to someone but I can't find him anymore. I will go in and see where I can come in. I have one or two things I want to discuss with you. Right now I am busy, when I am ready, I will mail you. Please leave behing you email address or mail me at tianshihotguy@yahoo.com. Cheers

What site??

I will add you to the group and then you can easily log in to it.