KIGALI - The government, through the One Laptop Per Child programme (OLPC), Friday, donated 585 laptops to students.

The function took place at Groupe Scolaire Camp Kanombe in Kicukiro District.

16 teachers were also given a laptop each as a way of equipping those who will lead the teaching of computer skills.

 "I will be using a laptop for the very first time. I have been admiring students from schools that received theirs earlier,” said Yvonne Kabatesi, a primary six student.

"This is a great step that will even enable us get connected to the internet and students will be able to learn beyond only using a computer,” the school Headmaster, Baptiste Nsengiyumva, said.

In his speech, District Mayor, Paul Jules Ndamage, said measures have been put in place to ensure ready servicing of the gadgets.

"Technicians from the district will have to monitor and make sure that the equipment is in good working condition,” Ndamage said.

Nkubito Bakuramutsa, the OLPC Coordinator in the Ministry of Education, said that the programme aims at distributing 100,000 laptops by July this year.

He added that the government is putting in place sufficient infrastructure in schools countrywide to enable students’ use the laptops.

"We are also making sure that schools which do not have electricity or means of making use of the computers can get all the necessary materials,” Nkubito said.

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