250-euro laptops for pupils
The Economy and Finance Ministry has set a ceiling of -250 per item for the price of portable computers (laptops) for pupils who will start to acquire them from this school year on a pilot project. The process has already begun for the selection of the model that the Greek state will procure for the project to be implemented. Sources suggest that the first batch will include 10,000 computers which, according to the ministry’s proposal, will be distributed to pupils in the last two grades of primary school. The same sources also suggest that there already are two bids tabled in the competent authorities from companies interested in undertaking the project. The first is that founded by Greek-American professor Nicholas Negroponte, who came up with the idea of the $100 laptop. It has already begun an international campaign for its promotion, although the first estimates suggest it has not had the reception it expected from poor and developing states. The other proposal comes from Intel, which is world-renowned in the domain of small processors. Both companies interested had initially announced they would cooperate in the dispersion of digital technology and the training of young pupils in it, but eventually decided to submit separate offers. Of course one cannot rule out that in the end they will cooperate in practice. The government may actually opt for distributing the project between the two, so as to choose the one that is more accessible and user-friendly for pupils. The government’s final decision may be made on practical evidence.
