Intel powers local youth

Intel is in the final phase of its initiative that promised the donation of 5 000 PCs to local schools.

Parthy Chetty, manager of corporate affairs at Intel, explains that this initiative aligns with the company's one-on-one classroom solution, with the aim to make each classroom an e-learning environment where every student has a laptop.

He says Intel has just finished equipping 10 schools in KwaZulu-Natal with 50 computers each, and there are about 300 that still need to be deployed in Mpumalanga before the 5 000 mark is reached.

“ICT integration in the classroom is an extremely positive addition to the learning environment, as it brings rich and diverse resources into the classroom. This in turn leads to the formation of a more dynamic and productive learning environment,” says the Education Labour Relations Council.

Intel says it will roll out more ICT projects to help young people play an effective role in the emerging knowledge economy.

Chetty says Intel will use the world land speed record event, to be held in SA in 2012, to promote science and technology to local students as part of the event's Bloodhound project.

Bloodhound Project director Richard Noble says the event is the engineering adventure for the 21st Century. “We are pushing the limits and inspiring our young engineers and scientists with our incredible car capable of 1 000mph.”

The Royal Air Force explains the supersonic Bloodhound is a rocket-powered car that will be used to break the record.

Chetty says the event will draw international excitement and stimulate growth in the science and technology sector, so Intel will use the platform to display projects that will inspire youth to take up these fields of study.

The company also revealed it is visiting Kenya with a team of volunteers as part of the collaboration with Orphans Overseas, to extend benefits of the Intel-powered Classmate PCs, which are designed for use by school pupils.

“We want to help harness the combined potential of high-speed connectivity and technology to open up opportunities in information technology to young people. Such opportunities will spur the locally owned and operated computer services industry, help boost local economies, decrease unemployment and help alleviate poverty,” says Lawrence Hurst, Intel corporate anti-counterfeit and product fraud protection manager, who is leading the volunteer team.

Intel says it is donating 100 000 PCs to developing countries like Kenya to help accelerate technology use in the classroom, allowing for effective interaction between teachers and students.

“We see the use of these computers in this incredibly disadvantaged community of women and children as a means of opening a new world of hope and opportunity that never existed for them before,” notes Ian May, director of Orphans Overseas.

Intel will advise the South African government that the company's one-on-one e-learning model should be adopted as the next step in closing the digital divide.

The European Union has committed just over R1.1 billion (EUR122.68 million) to the Primary Education Sector Policy Support Programme in SA, says the Presidency.

A portion of this funding that was given to the Department of Basic Education will be set aside for ICT in education and e-education.

Granville Whittle, chief director of communications at the Department of Education, says no specific projects have been identified as those that will receive part of the funding as yet.

“But because e-education is one of the important focus areas for the department, some of the funding will go towards it.” However, Whittle adds that he cannot, as yet, say how much of the funding will go towards ICT.