The Venezuelan government has begun distributing the first of 350,000 portable Canaima laptop computers to be provided to public elementary school children by the end of the year, Venezuelanalysis.com said on November 17.
Education minister Jennifer Gil said: “The Canaima Plan is a milestone and a technological innovation. It allows us to keep deepening our integral and massive education system that does not involve just students, but the entire family environment, parents, representatives and teachers.”
Gil said the government has invested 700 million bolivars (about $165 million) in the laptops, of which 228,000 have already been distributed. The goal for 2010 is to distribute a total of 525,000 Canaima computers.
President Hugo Chavez said all public schoolchildren are to guaranteed a portable computer, school uniforms, and books.
Gil said: “Only in socialism is it possible to make real the rights of children, the rights of the people, to an improved quality of education and standard of living.”