Thanks to Intel

It is good to learn that the Intel has decided to donate 200 laptops in Bhutan. I loved reading this news. You?

13 February, 2010 - Intel, the multinational corporation that manufactures central processing units (CPU) or microprocessors, will donate 200 laptops for Bhutanese schools.

Known as ‘Classmate PC’, the laptops or rather netbooks are Intel’s response to the one laptop per child (OLPC) XO computer, also known as the US$ 100 laptop.

The donation comes four months after the government received 220 XO laptops from OLPC (Asia Pacific) and the international telecommunications union (ITU), reflecting Intel’s aggressive global marketing campaign against the XO.

The Classmate PC, like the XO, is directed at children in the developing world and is part of Intel’s “world ahead program,” aimed at bridging the digital divide with low cost personal computers.

An education planning officer Singye N Dorji said 10 primary schools across Bhutan would receive 20 Classmate PCs each. He said Intel (South Asia) also offered training for Bhutanese teachers and access to its e-learning solutions website: www.skoool.com, for free. The website allows users to download educational material such as interactive lessons.

“Like the OLPC concept, the Classmate PC is directed towards providing a one on one learning environment where students can teach themselves,” said Singye N Dorji. But, because of a lack of resources and budget, such a scenario for Bhutanese students is currently impossible.

The education ministry, in keeping with the 9th-five-year plan, is aiming at establishing a computer lab, with at least 20 computers for every secondary school, while primary schools will receive computers only through support programs.

“When we get such support, we try to distribute the laptops to primary schools,” Singye N Dorji said. “We’d love to give laptops to all primary students, had it not been for lack of resources.”

Education ministry’s 2009 statistics show that 141 of total 262 community primary schools and 28 of 55 primary schools do not have computers. On an average though, community primary schools have three computers, while primary schools have four.

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