Thursday, June 20, 2013

Come clean over laptops deal, communications lobby tells State

Come clean over laptops deal, communications lobby tells State


By GEORGE KEBASO
Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya (Tespok) has raised concern over how government intends to implement the schools laptop project. The project set to kick off next year will see the government purchase 1.35 million laptops for Class One pupils as well as construct computer laboratories for those in upper primary (Classes 4 to 8).
Tespok faulted the exclusive rights given to Microsoft International. Chief executive officer Fiona Asonga said the government must come clean over its deal with Microsoft. “Who will take the role of the programmers developing FOSS based applications in the country? Or is the arrangement that Microsoft gets us off the ground and handles only the first eight years and FOSS the next eight years to meet the industry demand and international best practice,?” she asked.
Early this month, President Uhuru Kenyatta hosted Microsoft International Global president Jean-Philippe Courtois at State House Nairobi. During the meeting, it is understood Courtois assured President Uhuru that his company will work with different partners to develop at least five enterprises in each county to provide technical support in hardware, connectivity and software to all schools in the country. The government has allocated Sh17.4 billion for the laptop project this financial year.

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