Cost analysis of information technology projects in education: experiences from developing countries

This study aims to assist education policy makers and planners in annualizing the costs of programs to introduce and maintain information technologies in schools. The study has three main sections. In the first section, it provides background information on the instructional uses and inputs of information technology programs in the primary and secondary schools of several Latin American and Caribbean countries,. The selected countries are: Belize, Chile, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Mexico. In the second, it highlights some of the key issues in cost analysis methodology used to calculate the costs, and assess the financial feasibility of proposed investments in information technology. This section also provides data, albeit incomplete, on the costs of selected information technology programs. The final section contains the conclusion and recommendations of the study, which focus on how to reduce the costs and increase the benefits of proposed information technology programs.