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Computers for all, in Uruguay's schools
| Computers for all, in Uruguay's schools A notebook, number 2 pencils, and the newest essential school supply in Uruguay: a laptop. The South American nation is the first and only country to guarantee every elementary school student attending government schools a portable computer. If the incumbent left-wing president wins the run-off election on November 29, his government says it will expand the program to all students in the public education system.Duration: 01:56 |
| "The next step"
Of course the next step if they are serious about making Uruguay fluent in High Tech is to significantly reduce or eliminate the import duties on computer equipment. |
Comment #203/18/10 09:07Rural east Colonia departmento | "You've gotta admit its getting better"
Over recent months I've noticed that the prices being asked for various computer bits and pieces on mercadolibre seem to be falling. Recently I saw 1 terabyte USB external HDDs on sale for 150 U$S... only about 50% more than US or UK prices. 9 months ago they were asking similar money for a 250 gig version. At the moment I have my eye on a 23" monitor for about 250 U$S which compares well with UK prices. |
| "Import duties."
Lee, I'm not sure but I think there's no import duties on computer equipment. I may be wrong though about some consumer equipment like laptops. But I'm sure that if there's any import tax on them, it would not be high. There are other costs involved, like freight, costs associated with warranty honored locally, costs associated with the size of the market, and most of all, our high IVA. Anyway, reducing the price of computers, say, a 20%, will beneffit more people like you or me, than the poor. They are as far of being able to buy a laptop with or without taxes. And, our taxes pay their XOs. So this is a great start. The Plan Ceibal has a lot of things to improve. There are a many people that thinks that Education needs money to solve more basic problems than digital literacy. They may have some sound reasons, but this is certainly a big step in the right direction. It had costed more than 150 million dollars, and it will cost several millions a year from now on. But... what the hell! For years I've seen the Gov waste my money with much, much, unusefull purposes. So I'm happy I'm being taxed for this. |
| "Import Taxes"
Everything I've received in Uruguay via the post office that has had import taxes assessed (which is basically everything over US$50)... be it vitamins, compiter stuff, wood blogs, tubes and sprayers... has been generally 60% (which includes IVA)... their simplified plan is a flat 60% when you go through a customs broker they go to a lot of effort to figure out the tax rate and for me its always ended up totaling 60%And that tax rate is applied to the product cost + the shipping cost. I think for the big importers the freight costs are not significant... when you break cost of a container full of computers the freight for each one is quite low... compared to shipping them by DHL. |
| Learning how to use the computer is almost a necessity now if you want to use to your full advantage the communication and technological advances available nowadays. With a computer class being offered in schools, it will help train the students know about this indispensable knowledge and skill. It is great that the government provided laptop computers to students in this particular school in Uruguay. I wonder when will that happen in my country? |
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