Microsoft to Help Out 1 Million Low-income Students
One million students from low-income families in the US will have access to software, hardware, and discounted broadband internet service courtesy of Redmond-based software giant Microsoft. This will help the students develop the skills they need to complete in the global market. Students in digitally excluded homes who don’t have access to technology have fewer employment opportunities.
According to the statistics, there are about 9.5 million students in digitally excluded homes. And according to a recent study the cumulative financial impact of digital exclusion on the US economy is of $32 billion per year and $1.2 trillion over the working lifetime of these students.
“Roughly 100 million Americans remain unconnected to high-speed Internet, and the economic cost of digital exclusion is rising every day,” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. “This isn’t a problem for government alone. The private sector, nonprofit groups and government actors must work collaboratively to close this gap, create jobs and ensure America’s global competitiveness. Substantial commitments to bring digital access to millions more Americans are a significant step in the right direction.”
Microsoft will aid the students as part of a three-year program launched yesterday, Sept 20th, at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting. The overall goal here seems to be that by giving students the skills they need to compete in the global market, they are empowered to contribute to the their community’s economic recovery. The students will get Windows-based PCs, Microsoft education software, broadband internet access, and job skills training.
“At Microsoft we believe all students should have access to the building blocks of a quality education,” said Anthony Salcito, vice president, Worldwide Education for Microsoft. “Putting technology in the hands of a student who did not have access is a powerful step on the path leading to graduation, employability and a better future.”
For the past five years, Microsoft has provided access to technology to more than 10 million students around the world, as part of its global Shape the Future program. The launch of the three-year program that will help out 1 million students in the US extends the aforementioned Shape the Future program.
According to the statistics, there are about 9.5 million students in digitally excluded homes. And according to a recent study the cumulative financial impact of digital exclusion on the US economy is of $32 billion per year and $1.2 trillion over the working lifetime of these students.
“Roughly 100 million Americans remain unconnected to high-speed Internet, and the economic cost of digital exclusion is rising every day,” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. “This isn’t a problem for government alone. The private sector, nonprofit groups and government actors must work collaboratively to close this gap, create jobs and ensure America’s global competitiveness. Substantial commitments to bring digital access to millions more Americans are a significant step in the right direction.”
Microsoft will aid the students as part of a three-year program launched yesterday, Sept 20th, at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting. The overall goal here seems to be that by giving students the skills they need to compete in the global market, they are empowered to contribute to the their community’s economic recovery. The students will get Windows-based PCs, Microsoft education software, broadband internet access, and job skills training.
“At Microsoft we believe all students should have access to the building blocks of a quality education,” said Anthony Salcito, vice president, Worldwide Education for Microsoft. “Putting technology in the hands of a student who did not have access is a powerful step on the path leading to graduation, employability and a better future.”
For the past five years, Microsoft has provided access to technology to more than 10 million students around the world, as part of its global Shape the Future program. The launch of the three-year program that will help out 1 million students in the US extends the aforementioned Shape the Future program.
