BRIEFS. education

Microsoft helps launch educational program

Maydée Romero/LA PRENSA

summit: The program "Connect to Knowledge" will teach more than 700 students in Panama how to use computers as academic tools.1025663

With the Microsoft-sponsored program, "Connect to Knowledge," Panama could become an international case study, said President Martín Torrijos at yesterday´s inauguration of the fourth annual Microsoft Research Academic Summit.

"We're moving ahead and we´ve decided to adopt this tool that to strengthen the learning process," stressed the President.

"Connect to Knowledge," which the government has introduced in about 700 public schools, is aimed at teaching students how to use computers as an academic tool. Panama will have the largest number of schools involved in the program in Central America.

Jaime Puente, the manager of external investigation for Microsoft Research Panamá, said that a lack of clarity of agenda and collaboration are obstacles to the program´s success in Latin America.

"There is much work to do," said Rick Rashid, vice president of Microsoft Research, "but there are good opportunities here."