Les Oliver, president of the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) an association for information technology (IT) professionals, announced Thursday support of the federal government’s Computers for Schools program that provides recycled computers to schools and libraries across Canada.
As part of the endorsement of the program, Oliver said CIPS is providing useful links and information on how to donate a surplus computer on its Web site.
Oliver said, in a statement, the organization is providing its support because it recognizes that more Canadians should be encouraged to develop their computer skills as technology becomes prevalent in today’s job market.
The more computers that can be provided to the community, the more prepared individual Canadians will be to progress in this digital age, Oliver added.
Brian Tobin, Federal Minister of Industry, said the Computers for Schools program was important as it provides students, teachers and librarians with the opportunity to teach and learn the skills needed to excel in today’s technological world. The Computers for Schools computer workshops not only repair and refurbish donated computers but provide valuable training and work experience in the high-tech field to students, recent graduates and youth at risk, Tobin added
The Computers for Schools program improves access to IT for all Canadians by refurbishing and donating more than 60,000 surplus computers per year to schools and public libraries across Canada. The program recently celebrated the delivery of 250,000 recycled computers. Co-founded in 1993 by Industry Canada and the Telephone Pioneers, Computers for Schools is a collaborative initiative committed to giving students access to the technology they need to succeed in the new economy.
Those interested in donating a computer can obtain information about the Computers for Schools program by going to the CIPS Web site: http://www.cips.ca/it/public or contacting Computers for Schools at http://www.schoolnet.ca/cfs-ope.