Microsoft will supply free software, capacity building and training at Universal Service and Access Agency of SA (USAASA) telecentres for a year. However, the agency is actively looking for an open source partnership too.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the world's largest software company and government's point agency for developing universal service and ICT capacity was signed earlier this week and will be renewed every year. The organisations already have a two-year relationship.
A Microsoft SA spokesperson says the value of the training and capacity building is about $40 000 (about R475 000), but the value of the software would depend on the needs of each telecentre.
Cassandra Gabriel, USAASA chairperson, says the MOU will help the agency to build some of the telecentres, also known as access centres, to offer accredited training courses, which are essential for youth skills development in order to equip them for the job market.
She says USAASA is also actively looking for an open source partner that will be able to give similar support as Microsoft is supplying. The agency has had some discussions with organisations such as the Shuttleworth Foundation, she notes.
“Open source is central to government's IT strategy and it is important for us to develop those skills among the youth. However, Microsoft does dominate the commercial job market and those skills are also very important.”
Gabriel says USAASA is also embarking on a programme to transfer as many of the agency's 154 telecentres into private hands as possible.
“The most successful of our telecentres are the ones that are operated as small businesses. They are the ones that get to know their clients and are very responsive to their needs.”
The agreement will see Microsoft SA provide free software - in local languages, where available - to the access centres for three years. It will also make available its IT Academy programme, which offers internationally-accredited qualifications, and give graduates access to workplace experience through its Student2Business initiative.
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