Lindsay Dentlinger
25 September 2003
Windhoek — A high-profile Microsoft deal to provide thousands of free computers to Namibian schools by 2004 is an attempt to marginalise Schoolnet Namibia, claims Director Joris Komen.
Schoolnet, a local non-profit organisation, is active in the same field and provides Internet access, hardware and training to more than 180 schools across the country.
Komen was commenting on the new 'Partnership in Learning' agreement signed between Namibia and software giant Microsoft in Johannesburg on Monday.
He says his organisation is concerned about the long-term sustainability of the initiative - and whether the assistance being given by Microsoft to help bridge the digital divide in Namibia is genuine.
Komen said he is "grateful to Microsoft for getting involved in computer education in schools" but feels there needs to be more concrete costing, ownership responsibility, and conditions of support.
In terms of the deal, Microsoft will distribute 4 000 refurbished computers to about 400 schools.
The cost of the software to run them is still "subject to negotiation", said Mark East, Microsoft's director of Education Solutions in Africa.
Schoolnet says their systems are being removed from some of the 13 schools identified to receive Microsoft computers in terms of a pilot programme agreed on two months ago.
Eden Primary School at Okahandja, the first school to receive computers under the agreement, has had its Schoolnet system replaced in favour of the new system.
Schoolnet Namibia systems run on the Linux operating system, which can be downloaded for free off the Internet and does not attract licensing fees for its use.
Schoolnet Africa's Executive Director Shafika Isaacs, who also drives Nepad's initiative on e-schools, said: "We do not want to create division in governments.
We want to put forward a cohesive programme for Africa and also for Namibia".
Her organisation is not against governments brokering a partnership with Microsoft or other private sector companies.
But Isaacs says there has to be agreement on a common vision for taking technology to schools, with openness and transparency key.
Namibia's Country Director for the National Democratic Institute, Foster Mijiga, who has been advising Parliament on information technology solutions, said he is aware of Schoolnet's concerns.
But, the main aim of the Microsoft deal is to broaden the partnership base in taking information technology to schools, he added.
The intention of the Microsoft partnership is to work out the "formalities", including long-term technical issues and the sustainability of setting up computer laboratories in schools.
"It is a partnership, not a contract. It is a process and there are things we need to iron out. I know Schoolnet thinks Microsoft came through the back door. But this is not the case. It will be silly for anybody to close doors to partners. We just have to agree on the parameters of the partnership," said Mijiga.
Basic Education Permanent Secretary Loine Katoma said her Ministry is not in a position to comment on the Microsoft deal as they have not yet seen the agreement.
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