One Laptop Per Child in Rwanda; 50,000 Programmers To Be?

The Economist reports here on the Rwandan government's efforts to get affordable and durable laptops into the hands of over a million children within the next few years. Here is a related story.

The goal is to create a cadre of tech savvy citizens who will help spark entrepreneurial activity and pull Rwanda into middle-income status by the year 2020. This is a hugely ambitious goal and it would be wonderful if the government is successful.

The experiment provides an interesting opportunity to consider trade-offs: the government will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy these computers which are being developed by the One Laptop per Child NGO. This money could, of course, be used to upgrade hospitals or build medical clinics in rural areas. It could be used to build irrigation systems, reclaim threatened natural habitats, or improve roads and bridges. Why buy computers; isn't that something of a luxury in a poor country?

In this case, the government has a target of training 50,000 computer programmers by 2020. The government might be making a good bet that thousands of computer programmers is what the country needs, but recognize that it is a bet. Maybe Rwandans would be better off learning agronomy for example, or finance.

Time will tell if this effort leads to the kinds of outcomes (talented computer programmers) that the government desires. Meanwhile, as the story in The Economist points out, small businesses will spring up around the country to repair the machines, and provide other related services. The children who have access to the computes will have the wonderful experience of active learning as a supplement to their traditional education. Who knows what cool ideas and businesses this will spark. . .

- Karol

(The photo is from the One Laptop per Child website).