Narrowing the gap between the information rich and the information poor :
New technologies and the future of the school

Links Network

Chile, covering the whole country

The Links program (Educational Computer Science) is a government's program in charge of introducing computer science and communication technologies into the schools (elementary) and "liceos" (high school) in Chile, by means of providing computers, Internet connection and teacher training. The computer science technology integration to teaching practices is one of the main Network's tasks and one of the objectives acknowledged by the new high school curriculum. This also implies implementing adequate school guidance, and use the kinds of software that might become relevant teaching material, in accordance with the schools' own educational projects.

The purpose of the project is to integrate the new computer science technologies (latest generation computers, networks, Internet, multimedia and educational software) into the state-subsidized schools, whether they are municipal or private. Currently, 3,000 schools and "liceos" throughout the country participate in the Network, becoming a great cultural community and favoring over 1,400,000 students and more than 35,000 Chilean teachers.
The Links Network is articulated through the electronic mail and interests lists related to educational topics (bulletin board). This Network provides the state-subsidized schools with a computer rooms, connection, software and technical assistance for two years (the technical support and training system is structured by well-known universities all around the country). The Chilean Government has also produced in 1999 a support material for teachers ("Internet, a new Education resource), which includes subjects such as Internet benefits in the educational domain, pedagogical uses of Internet, the possibilities of integrating Internet into the school curricula and the criteria for a web-site evaluation.

The Ministry of Education, through the execution of the program of Improvement of the Quality and Equity of Education (MECE) tries to introduce improvements and innovations in the pedagogical practices in order to increase the quality and equity of the Chilean educational system. The program has been working on this for ten years, becoming one of the pioneers in the area in Latin America.
Since 1998, Information Technology is officially taught in Chilean schools.

Government of Chile
Ministry of Education
Felipe Jara Schnettler
Links Network National Coordination
Teatinos 20, Of. 31, Santiago de Chile, CHILE
Tel : (56-2) 390 4954
E.mail : fijara@mineduc.cl
Web site : http://www.enlaces.cl/

Telefonica CTC Chile, Entel y Telefónica del Sur,Grants from private companies and school communities.

1990

World Bank and UNESCO.