Your surplus computer model is more sustainable in Bohol and Philippines.

I don't deny that funds in that direction are also needed. However, computers are an essential tool in modern office environments, so to be able to get any job in that area, exposure to it is required. Furthermore, computers are an ideal way to access books. Although a computer is more expensive than a book, costing as much as a hundred books or so, it can contain many thousands of books, and unleash access to even more on the internet. Having a computer with internet connectivity at school is equivalent to supplying the school with a 100.000 book library.

I have experience with trying to maintain surplus computers, and, the older the machines, the more difficult it gets. All kind of parts break down, and replacements are no longer available in the market, which means I have to canibalize other machines for this purpose. Unfortunately, it is often the same part that break. If it is more than five years old, it is actually cheaper to get something newer, and yes, I continue to wish for simpler and more robust computers.--Jeroen.