UgandAshis 23. Rwanda's plans for computers for all primary school students by 2012

UgandAshis 23 Rwanda’s plans for computers for all primary school students by 2012

June 17, 2009

Kampala, Uganda

Under the name One Laptop per Child has been launched by Global Center for Excellence in Laptops and Learning in collaboration with the Rwandese government. The plans sound great: all Rwandan primary school children to be supplied with XO laptop by 2012. The cost of the laptop is $100 a subsidized rate. Nicholas Negroponte’s plan to make computers available to all may take off in Rwanda.

Going back for an instant to Uganda when I meet students on the bus traveling up and down to Fort Portal half of them seem to be studying IT. It is a misconception that there are no qualified people to run software or computer hardware companies in East Africa. And at the same time access to internet is costly, low bandwidth and often just not working. I was smirking yesterday when I read a letter to the editor in my Daily Monitor newspaper describing the failing of a competing internet provider (MTN). All the writer could get was the MTN homepage and that for 5 days in a row. It was the letter I was about to write about my provider (UTL). Fortunately for me my connection has been up and running for two days.

The internet connection for Sub Saharan Africa has been depending on costly satellite connection. As we speak the cable that has been laid on the bottom of the ocean has reached Mombasa. So with a bit of luck there should be a normal bandwidth connection in 2010 or 2011 in Kampala. This cable is supposed to hook up most of East, Central, West and Southern Africa.

So with normal bandwidth access to the internet and all primary school kids in Rwanda computer savvy will the next Silicon Valley or Bangalore be in Kigali, Rwanda? Let us hope so. For all the Rwandese have been going through their economy is one of the fastest growing worldwide (not easy when your country is landlocked) It is only 15 years ago when the world watch on to yet another genocide.

An informed and well educated group of youngsters may be key to have Africa as the happening place now and the leading continent worldwide in 50 to 100 years. After all this continent has the resources, the people and when peace is the norm the golden opportunity to shine.

The XO laptop will be introduced in 17 countries in Africa. Let more of the African leaders give their future (the kids) an edge to compete with the world. The 2.2 million in Rwanda may have been given a powerful boost.

Namaskar,
Ashis