…Bridging the Information, Knowledge and Fax Machine Gap

When I fist read a story titled “Uruguay buys first '$100 laptops'” on the BBC website (BBC News, 29 October 2007), I was enthralled. It said that “The first official order for 100,000 "’$100 laptop’ has been placed by the government of Uruguay.” Got me thinking!!

How come the leadership of a country like Uruguay, South America, is so visionary and in tune with modern information society as to be the first to order “$100 Laptops” for each of that nation’s 6-12 year old children. Reportedly, the order was placed by Uruguay’s state-run LATU for that country’s public education program called “Ceibal.” My excitement increased further when I read that Uruguay had actually ordered an additional 300,000 of those “$100 Laptops,” to be delivered to that country by 2009. The other question that came naturally to me was why not for Ghana’s children given that the laptop was actually unveiled by Ghana’s own Mr. Kofi Annan back in 2005?

I will talk about the cost and characteristics of the “$100 Laptop,” whether the program itself is a genuine one, and briefly compare the Laptop to Television as an educational aid for Ghana’s children. First, some demographics and the pocket change!

DEMOGRAPHIC FACTOR, REQUIREMENTS, & $230 MILLION POCKET CHANGE

For Uruguay, 400,000 represent about 11% of its total population of approx. 3,460,607. Compared to Ghana with a population of approx 21 million people, 11% gives us 2.3 million (2.3 million laptops). At $100 per laptop, that would be a whopping $230 million. But would that amount be all that “whopping” if it is in deed the case that “More than 95% of Ghanaian executives…are computer illiterate. Many do not know how to operate a fax machine,” (Dr. Kwaku A. Danso, Ghaneweb, Business Sense Versus Economic Textbook Knowledge, 10 November 2007).

Fortunately for Ghana, Prof Lungu found data that showed that there are about 1.52 million children between the ages of 9 and 14 in all of Ghana’s regions that could benefit from any such program (using the number of children alone). That would require approx $152 million for that target population. Does the reader still think that $152 million (compared to $230 million) is an inordinate amount of money to spend on behalf of Ghana’s children? Just $30,400 for each year Ghana has been independent?

Yes, you say? How about using the number of primary schools as the target population for the program? If there are approx 12,225 primary schools in Ghana, suppose we allow about 100 of those “$100 Laptops” for each primary school. Say 80 laptops for each school, and slightly more for each of those schools in the three regions in the north. That would result in a total program commitment of approx. $1.2 million. Would that fit your bill? Did you say that be a great start, endowment, even, for Libraries & Learning Centers for each one of Ghana’s primary schools?

Did I hear let’s do it? But wait! Here is some information before you write the check for the children of Ghana.

ABOUT THE “$100 LAPTOP”

Come to find out, the “$100 Laptop” is not yet a “$100 Laptop” after all. The “$100 Laptop” will be produced and marketed by US-based One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) Foundation, an NGO. Problem is $100 is the future expected price for the laptop. Plan is, as other developing nations chime in with orders, those orders will help to significantly reduce production cost per machine.

Mind you, the mission of OLPC for its “$100 Laptop” is to “stimulate local grassroots initiatives designed to enhance and sustain over time the effectiveness of laptops as learning tools for children living in lesser-developed countries. The “$100 Laptop,” we are told “can leapfrog decades of development—immediately transforming the content and quality of ... children's learning.”

Called the XO laptop, the “$100 Laptop” is said toe be durable and waterproof. It can be powered by solar, foot-pump or pull-string powered chargers. It includes a sunlight readable display allowing use outside. And the XO Laptop has no moving parts. Again, the “$100 Laptop” was unveiled to the world by none other than Ghana’s own Mr. Kofi Annan, at the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis, Tunisia, 16th November, 2005.

According to OLPC, beginning 12 November 2007, the price per machine is $200 for individuals who order two (Buy One for Your Child, Get Another Machine Sent to a Very Poor Child in Haiti, Rwanda, etc). Reportedly, Uruguay paid approx $188 per laptop. Rwanda signed up early this year to participate in the program and Rwanda will be receiving some free “$100 Laptops” for its children soon.

ITEM: Prof Lungu is not aware that the Government of Ghana has expressed any interest in the “$100 Laptop” program. But the OLPC distribution map shows that at least one NGO may currently be “seeking government support.” In that sense, Ghana is YELLOW, not even GREEN!! According to OLPC, “To give 100 or more laptops and direct them to a location you designate, send email to laptop.org, givemany@laptop.org. I am thinking that qualifying Governments can contact OLPC directly, but there will be strict accounting and auditing.

IS THIS FOR REAL OR A 419 SCHEME?

You know now about OLPC. This is a real, legitimate program, although Bill Gates ridiculed the idea based on technical grounds some 2 years ago when the program was first announced. More important, OLPC Foundation is a US registered NGO. It is tax-exempt. That means that US citizens and corporations that make “donations”, including purchases for others may be able to deduct amount paid from their federal income tax as support to OLPC Foundation. Naturally, there are strict accounting and reporting standards here. The laws are enforced by the IRS. Should be a lot easier for the IRS because we are dealing with production and delivery of goods (Laptops), not provision of services.

WHY LAPTOP? WHY NOT TELEVISION AND VIDEO FOR CHILDREN?

Educational programs cannot be static or pre-historic. According to the Ghana Education Service, “an impressive number of schools are making use of television lessons.” Further, there is what is reported to be “the most ambitious e-leaning programme, President’s Special initiative on Distance Learning, (PSI-DL),” from 2002, that uses television and the internet. (Prof Lungu hears the internet is down in Ghana fairly frequently).

Seems to me if Ghana is serious about quickly “turning the country’s large youthful population into a skilled human resource and increasing the percentage of her key technical and professional manpower, a laptop can get the job done quicker and more cost effectively, over the long haul. Consider the needs of the country, the needs of the student, and expenditures of the same size made in the name of Ghana over the last decade. And then again, the “$100 Laptop” program can support television programs more than television programs can support the “$100 Laptop.” And while Laptops are interactive, watching television is a highly passive, mind-numbing affair. Also, outcomes from the “$100 Laptop” program ought to be easier measured. Above all, what a way to put fire at the feet of the government? (We are reminded that the government of Ghana does not routinely purchase computers for schools).

SO WHAT NEXT, GHANA?

So the cost outlay of about $1.2 million is still too high? Can we say the “$100 Laptop,” is too expensive for Ghana’s children? So the cost is too high and the “$100 Laptop” as “Endowment” for Ghana’s elementary school libraries is unrealistic! Do you want to reduce the requirement to as low as 50 “$100 Laptops” for each of Ghana’s primary schools?

Can we now say the “$100 Laptop” is coming soon to every neighborhood elementary school in Ghana? Won’t that be a great way to get all parents involved in their children’s education, as never before seen or done? How many poor school children will skip school if they had a chance to work on a computer any day of the school week? How long must Ghana wait to solve the computer literacy deficit problem, from the child to the adult person in leadership position who cannot even operate a fax machine?

ITEM: As I am writing this article, the “Buy-One-Get-One” program for the XO Laptop kicks off tomorrow (12 Nov 07). There are about 45 days before the end of the 2007 tax year. Many Americans and private corporations may never be in a better position to help Ghana’s children. Question is, where are Ghana’s visionary leaders? Where are the leaders who are effectively plugged into the current information society to know what to do, how to go about it, how to truly make a difference for Ghana’s children and the nation?

What a life! Uruguay, South American, you’ve thought us something useful in life. Something possibly great for Ghana’s children! GRACIAS!!

Vision, currency with modern information technology, foresight, and Ghana-centeredness!! That is all it takes, in Prof Lungu’s humble opinion.

DISCLOSURE AND FINAL NOTES:

1. Prof Lungu is not associated in any way with OLPC, with the Ghana Education Service, or with any NGO in Ghana.

2. Also, Prof Lungu recognizes that public programs and even programs by private corporations do not always end up supportive of program mission or agency goals. But Prof Lungu believes that a well conceptualized program discussed in public by all stakeholder typically works in the long run for the concerned group of people, including nation-states.

3. Accompanying color graphic by Prof Lungu.