Microsoft expands commitment to Accessibility and High-Quality Education across Asia Pacific Region – Bill Gates

Today, in his keynote address at the Government Leaders Forum – Asia (GLF Asia) in Jakarta, Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates announced several key programmes, partnerships and offerings that strengthen Microsoft’s commitment to and investment in delivering accessible technology and transforming education for citizens across the Asia Pacific region and around the world.

The announcements include new education tools for people with special needs; the extension of an important skills development andcertification programme available through Internet cafes (iCafes) in the Philippines;the further progress of Microsoft’s flagship K-12 education programme Partners in Learning, which has now achieved a milestone number of 100 million students reached worldwide; and the expansion of Microsoft Innovation Centres in Indonesia with Pelita Harapan University.

“At the heart of our efforts is the belief that everyone should have access to technology and all the benefits it brings – quality education, fostering local innovation and enabling jobs and opportunities,” Gates said. “We want to do everything we can to equip economies with access to the tools of the digital information revolution – PCs, the Internet, productivity, software, e-mail – so that they can be full participants in the global knowledge economy.”