Digital classrooms, brighter futures in La Paz, Baja California Sur

Objective

The primary objective of this project is to improve access to functional computer technology and hands-on digital learning for students enrolled in technical education programs at six secondary schools in the Municipality of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The project will provide appropriate, functioning computers for courses such as Computer Programming, Graphic Design, Office Skills and other technical programs, enabling students to develop the basic to advanced computer skills needed for current and future educational and employment opportunities.

Approximately 3,583 students ages 12–15 enrolled in technical training programs will be the principal beneficiaries, with teachers and staff also benefiting through teacher education and improved access to technology for instruction, student assessment and educational activities. The participating schools primarily serve low-income to lower-middle-income communities where families have limited resources, and the schools have insufficient access to current computer equipment.

The project will strengthen the schools' capacity to provide hands-on, computer-based instruction rather than relying on paper and pencil, outdated equipment or demonstrations. By increasing students' access to functional technology in their technical courses, the project seeks to improve their digital competencies and better prepare them for continued education and for a workforce that increasingly requires computer skills.

The project builds on the successful experience of the Rotary Club of Bahía de La Paz in providing 23 computers to Technical Secondary School No. 13. The positive results of that project, together with feedback from teachers and school administrators, led to a broader needs assessment and the identification of five additional technical secondary schools with similar needs.

Project design

The project will purchase and provide 200 functional computers to six technical secondary schools in the Municipality of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The equipment will be allocated based on the educational needs identified by the directors and technical staff of the six participating schools to support courses including Computer Programming, Graphic Design, Office Skills and other technical training programs.

The State Department of Public Education (SEP) will provide the facilities and appropriate installation sites and will be responsible for installation, technical supervision, security and ongoing maintenance of the computer systems. SEP will also provide the teacher education needed for these programs. Each participating school will designate responsibility for the security and appropriate educational use of the equipment for SEP course curricula.

The Rotary Club of Bahía de La Paz, as host sponsor, will be responsible for procurement of the approved equipment, pre-installation site inspections, delivery to the participating schools, and initial inspection and registration of the equipment upon delivery and installation. The club will conduct at least annual on-site monitoring visits to each participating school to review equipment functionality, security, maintenance, utilization and continued application to the technical education programs. The host club will maintain communication with SEP for early identification of problems.

The international sponsor will support project oversight and, when practicable, participate in equipment distribution, installation and periodic site visits. Both clubs will review monitoring results, work together to address significant implementation issues and document progress toward the project's educational objectives.

Beneficiaries

The 3,583 students in the technical training programs of the six selected schools will be the principal beneficiaries.

At least 325 teachers and staff members will also benefit.

Sustainability

The new computers are expected to remain functional for at least 5 years. The Department of Public Education (SEP) of the State of Baja California Sur has committed to the care, maintenance and technical support of the computer systems during this period.

Partner organizations

• Department of Public Education (SEP) of the State of Baja California Sur

Monitoring and evaluation

The project will monitor each year the number of students in technical and general education programs who have access to computers. Participating schools will provide annual information on computer utilization and the number of students benefiting from access to the equipment.

The host club will conduct at least annual on-site reviews at each participating school to confirm that the computer systems remain operational, properly maintained, secure and available for educational use. The reviews will also confirm that technical support is provided by SEP and the schools, and will identify any equipment or maintenance issues requiring attention.

Project results will be documented through school reports, equipment inventories and on-site monitoring records. The information collected will be compared with the project's educational baseline and targets to evaluate continued access, functionality, utilization, educational gains and sustainability of the computer systems.

Implementation year

2026