http://www.guardian.co.tt/bussguardian5.html

Schools Computerisation Programme: Microsoft To Provide Software

*BY JUHEL BROWNE*

Microsoft Caribbean is in the final negotiations of closing an agreement
with the Ministry of Education for the provision of computer software
that will cost US$50 – $60 annually per computer.

In an interview, Microsoft Caribbean Territory Manager George Gobin said
the agreement would allow for the Ministry to utilise a number of
different Microsoft software applications for one price, as opposed to
having to buy each application for each computer separately.

“The agreement covers all schools in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.

Gobin noted the costs of some of the applications included in the school
agreement for each computer: Windows: US$299, Office: US$600,
development package: US$1,300 and encyclopedia: $40.

“You add training, exposure to seminars, all of those are part of the
agreement,” Gobin said.

Microsoft now has similar school and campus agreements for its software
with the University of the West Indies (St Augustine campus), the School
of Accounting and Management and the International School of Port-of-Spain.

Gobin said the overall cost of the agreement would depend on the number
of computers the Ministry employs throughout the school system.

“I guess through the 20/20 Vision thing all schools are going through
this modernisation plan which is bringing computers as part of that,” he
said.

Schools around the country are being outfitted with computers under the
Secondary School Modernisation Programme (SEMP).

In 2000, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said one of Government’s school
computerisation programme will cost $7 million and phase two, which will
include equipping all primary schools with computers, is estimated to
cost around $20 million.

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Taran
http://www.knowprose.com