UN TELECOM AGENCY JOINS FORCES WITH PORTUGAL TO BRING LAPTOPS TO SCHOOLS

The United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Portugal have joined forces to bring laptops to schools in developing countries.

Under ITU's “Connect a School, Connect a Community” initiative, Portugal, through its own eSchool International programme, will help provide comprehensive technological solutions for schools in several countries.

Twenty nations will take part in the first phase, which will test innovative approaches to using information and communication technology (ICT) in the classroom and measure their impact.

One school in each of the 20 participating countries will receive up to 50 new laptops equipped with software and educational content, along with wireless modems and broadband Internet connectivity.

“We are on the edge of an exciting new frontier,” said ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré, congratulating Portugal for its leadership and willingness to share its experiences with other countries.

“With the help of broadband-supported applications in schools, we now have the chance to bring information and knowledge to children all around the world.”

Launched last year, “Connect a School, Connect a Community” aims to facilitate public-private partnerships to connect all schools to broadband Internet services so that schools can also serve as community centres for ICT.