And he is keen to encourage technology start-up firms, who cannot spare the money, to donate shares in their companies which, it was to be hoped, would grow in value. Heavyweight backing Initially Prof Beker said he would chair the foundation's board of trustees, which would be made up of representatives of the communities the scheme was most designed to help. Among the big players, computer chip maker Intel and computer manufacturer Dell announced their support on Wednesday. Intel's regional education manager, Chris Parr, said its involvement was mainly in training some 100,000 teachers to use new technology. Better awareness of its potential on their part was crucial to the sucess of any such scheme, he said.
Teachers are the gatekeepers for the use of the technology in the classroom.
Enthusiasm He recalled seeing a young maths teacher using a new notebook computer and interactive whiteboard in a school in Birmingham. He got a kick out of it so his enthusiasm was through the roof, and there wasn't a single child in the class who wasn't focusing on the board and trying to find out what was coming next. Software giant Microsoft already operates local e-learning foundations. On its model, the local charitable foundation can reclaim tax on the donations made to it and the VAT on the equipment it buys. It is operating on the principle that a pupil can have access to a computer to use at home only if the family contributes something towards the cost.