Youth Forum Continued This session will explore innovative governmental policies designed to ensure that primary, secondary and tertiary schools are connected to the Internet in line with the goals set by world leaders at WSIS and with the MDGs on universal education and gender equality. It looks at regulatory measures such as universal service funds, education-rate initiatives and government funding for rural broadband networks to finance school connectivity and the role the private sector is playing. It will take a look at the latest trends in digital libraries, open universities and other online knowledge resources as well as low-cost laptops that schools can tap, as well as safety online initiatives to promote child online protection. The session will examine other public and private initiatives to connect communities or develop content and applications for social and economic development. The session also explores how Youth Forum participants could put school and community connectivity on the political agenda in their country. Questions to be discussed could include • What are the best policies to promote connecting schools? What policies act as barriers? • How can coordination between education and communications ministries, regulators, local authorities, the private sector and NGOs be fostered? • What role will mobile broadband technologies play in connecting schools? • Who decides which service providers can connect schools? • Where can funding for connecting schools be found? • What steps are necessary to enable schools to serve the wider community and build job skills for women, persons with disabilities and indigenous people, promote literacy, develop applications for communities, etc? • Is connecting schools on the agenda in your country? Why, why not? • Can publishers be convinced to share their content with schools for free? • How can your school acquire low cost technologies, e.g. laptops? • Which schools should be equipped with assistive technologies? • Do import taxes or other restrictions stand in the way of bringing low-cost equipment to your school? • What practices can ensure sustainability for equipment provided to schools? What role for equipment suppliers? 103