I refer to the report headlined 'Computer donations to schools unfair' (South China Morning Post, January 1). Your readers can rest assured the Education Department's pilot Internet/Intranet project will not lead to unfair competition among service providers. The project has been launched in the interest of quality education. It will examine how teaching and learning could benefit through increased use of the Internet and assess the training and support needed for teachers in using this tool. It is clearly spelt out in the agreement between the Education Department and the present sponsoring agent that the latter should not, through the pilot project, promote its business and associated services and products. The agreement also states that the software and content portion derived from the pilot scheme remains the property of the Government and will not be used exclusively by the sponsor in future. In fact, findings of the project, including the technical and logistical aspects, will be open and made available to all interested parties. Moreover, the hardware and software engaged in the pilot are non-proprietary. There is no question of commercial advantage being gained. I would like to remind your readers that the partnership with the present sponsoring agent is by no means exclusive. In the interest of students and for fairness and openness, the department is prepared to discuss similar offers from any service provider who shares in the vision of quality education for our next generation. ANTHONY K. H. TONG for Director of Education
