All Libyan pupils to get laptop and web access

[spindrifter]

Thursday October 12, 2006
The Guardian

Libya could become the first country to provide every school-age child with a laptop computer and internet connection under a scheme supported by the UN Development Programme.

In a £134m deal with One Laptop Per Child (OLPC), an American non-profit group, Libya will acquire 1.2m computers with internet connection.

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Col Gadafy's son, Saif al-Islam, has talked of turning the country into the first "e-democracy", with citizens participating electronically in government decision-making.

Last August, Saif al-Islam - who is regarded as a likely successor to his father - spoke of wiring-up the country with optical fibres, mobile networks and computers in every home to provide "electronic government" where Libyans can interact with officialdom.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/libya/story/0,,1920032,00.html