Abidjan,Cote d'Ivoire; June 8 2017: The Ministry of National Education, Technical Teaching and Professional Training of Cote d’Ivoire and GESCI (Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative) launched a program to transform 20 secondary schools in the regions of Abidjan 1, Abidjan 2, Abidjan 3 and Yamoussokro into “Digital Schools of Distinction” through the deep integration of ICT on a whole school basis.The vent took place at the  National Center of Scientific Equipment (CNMS) / Cocody, in Abidjan. This roll out in Cote d’Ivoire is part of an Africa - wide initiative designed by GESCI and already being rolled out in Kenya and Tanzania. Mrs Candia Kamara, Minister of National Education, Technical Teaching and Professional Training, chaired the ceremony and officially launched the African Digital School Initiative stressing that “ICT is an extremely important tool in society as well as in the classroom, but it can only be effective if it improves the quality of teaching and governance and provide access to reach learning content”. GESCI CEO, Jerome Morrissey said: “GESCI was delighted to collaborate with the Ministry in the joint roll out of the Digital School of Distinction programme and congratulated the Minister, Madam Candia Kamara, on ensuring that Cote D’Ivoire was at the forefront of innovative practice in ICT-enable teaching and ensuring that students will be provided with the 21^st century skill necessary for subsequent employment and for active participation in the knowledge society of the future. Present at the launch ceremony were Mayor of Cocody, education regional directors, school principals, boards of management, parents’ representatives and students. Also attended the ceremony, representatives of international organisation and NGOs based in Abidjan. ADSI is a unique, innovative program to turn secondary schools into digital schools of distinction. It is designed specifically to build student 21^St century skills, including in Science Technology, English and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, and teachers’ practice using ICT in a way that is responsive to the needs of knowledge economies and societies and in the work place.