Lesley Stones
14 July 2008
Johannesburg — MICROSOFT has renewed its commitment to giving free software to schools across the country by promising to donate products that would cost R750m if it levied its usual licence fees.
Its operating systems and productivity software will go to about 26000 schools attended by 11,2-million pupils.
The move updates Microsoft's previous efforts to see its software used by the next generation of potential customers -- it first pledged free software for all state-owned schools in 2002. But the scheme was only partially successful, and after three years only 6000 schools had been covered. The rest were unable to benefit for a variety of reasons, including a lack of electricity and the absence of any computers.
Those problems, coupled with the inability of many teachers to use technology, saw Microsoft donate hardware as well as software to some schools. It also launched a training initiative and has trained 17000 teachers to use computers in the classroom.
The renewed commitment it made last week emphasised Microsoft's desire to encourage skills development to create a competitive economy, said Microsoft SA's acting MD Fernando de Sousa.
"I have seen how the magic of software can help people be more productive and creative. I believe that software can also play a critical role in helping societies address their most difficult challenges," he said.
"Software and technology innovation can help strengthen healthcare, protect the environment, improve education and extend social and economic opportunities."
Education department director-general Duncan Hindle said he was pleased to see the technology industry collaborating with the education community to help teachers and pupils use technology.
"Educating our youth is the cornerstone of sustainable economic growth," he said.
It was important to help teachers develop and to use the most effective learning tools to teach young people skills that were crucial for their future employability.
As well as earning kudos for Microsoft as a social responsibility initiative, the donations will make schoolchildren familiar with its software, making them less likely to switch to alternative versions once they begin to buy their own PCs.
Microsoft's dominance on the desktop was demonstrated in a local study by International Data Corporation, which found that Microsoft-related activities accounted for more than 153000 jobs last year, or 43% of SA's IT workforce.
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