MITA and Microsoft award prizes to teachers and students
In 2011, the government signed a five-year strategic alliance with Microsoft. Similar to past agreements, this alliance contains education-related initiatives to ensure a better future for students and the development of an innovative economy.
Last October, the first initiative of the alliance, targeted for students and teaching professionals in Malta, was launched. Students from kindergarten age to university age and teaching professionals were offered the opportunity to purchase Windows 7 Professional Upgrade and Office 2010 Professional Plus at a heavily discounted price, circa 85 per cent less than average market price. The two products together were sold at €79.79. The two products could also be bought individually – Windows 7 Professional Upgrade at €34.21 and Office 2010 Professional Plus for €45.58.
Registrations were available online and from some outlets for only a few weeks but the response from students and teachers was significant. In total, 2,747 students and teachers purchased one of the software package options on offer. “Initiatives like this one show the keen interest of students and teaching professionals in the latest technology. Offering such favourable discounts on technology especially for students and teaching professionals is always beneficial to increase access to the latest technology,” commented Matthew Gatt, CEO of the Malta IT Agency (MITA) during the awards event.
Mr Gatt said that besides the hefty discount offered, a cash donation of €7,051 was made to Puttinu Cares. From the sale of each software package containing the two products, MITA donated €3; while from the sale of each software package containing only one product, a donation of €1.50 was made.
A series of prizes were offered to teaching professionals and students who purchased the software, including an Xbox 36 Plus and an HTC Phone Windows 7, among others. Before awarding the prizes to the winners, country manager for Microsoft Malta Adrianna Zammit said “Microsoft believes that to be successful in today’s knowledge-based societies, students and teachers benefit by utilizing technology effectively and developing ICT skills. Following discussions with MITA and the MITC, we worked together to offer this special software package to enable students of all ages to benefit from Microsoft Software to have access to the tools required to acquired 21st century skills.”.
The winners include Gabriel Pace, Nathan Carabott, Theresa Borg, Emanuel Bartolo, Stephania Cuschieri, Mikhail Galea, AnneMarie Chetcuti, Kathlene Cassar, Tania Vella, Patrick Ciantar, Andre Belli, Mariah Azzopardi, Josette Zammit, James Schifo Attard, Adrienne Azzopardi and Duncan Abela.
Newtech, Microsoft’s local distributor, also provided prizes including mobile phone screen protectors and vouchers to 250 students and teaching professionals.
The few remaining students and teaching professionals who purchased the software but have not yet collected it, are kindly reminded to pick up their software package from Newtech Service Centre, Birkirkara Bypass, Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 2pm and 3 to 6pm by not later than 30 March.