Uruguay, which has the lowest literacy rate in South America, has recently begun a program that brings 21st century technology into Uruguayan classrooms.
The government has launched the “One Laptop Per Child” program so that children can access information through technology and be prepared for today’s world. The goal is to educate children, develop their brain power, and create better prospects for the youth of tomorrow.
Education in Uruguay is compulsory, and todays’ teachers introduce 19th century educational reformers, such as Jose Pedro Varela, to students in order to emphasize the role of education in Uruguay’s society and history.
Uruguay is the first country to give every student her/his own laptop. The current President, Jose Mujica, began this ambitious initiative in order to close the divide between the rich and the poor by providing everyone with the opportunity for education, access to technology, and access to information through technology. Mujica also believes that children of a developing country will not fall behind children in developed countries if they will be able to access knowledge and technical skills.
As laptops are creating equality across social strata and revolutionizing the educational scene in Uruguay, resulting in digital-savvy young Uruguayans, many believe that older generations are falling behind. But, many parents are learning from their children and taking responsibility for their own education.
For more information, please watch the video below.
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