Posted by : bpburnwal on Sep 25, 2003 - 09:22 PM Microsoft

SEATTLE (AP) - Microsoft Corp. is unveiling a new program that offers $250 million in grants for schools around the world that want to develop a technology curriculum for their students.
The Partners in Learning program also offers participating schools steep discounts on buying Microsoft software.

The program comes as government and educational agencies worldwide have been adopting or considering software from Microsoft competitors, including Linux software. The open-source software, which is freely available and can be improved upon by an open community of developers, has been gaining favor with agencies including France's ministry of education, China's post office, the city of Munich and others.

But the Partners in Learning program, being unveiled at Microsoft's Government Leaders Forum in Rome on Tuesday, is not in response to Linux, said Sherri Bealkowski, general manager of Microsoft's Education Solutions Group. Rather, the company wants to help students around the world attain ``e-literacy.''

Besides grants and the discounts, Microsoft will allow some developing countries to receive free software to install on donated personal computers. India, Thailand, Malaysia, Brazil and Italy have already signed up for the program.

Critics have decried Microsoft's actions as self-serving and an effort to block adoption of rival Linux software. The open-source software has gained fans and interest around the world as a cheaper alternative.