Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Feb 25/02) - When Marc Bieri heard on the radio that a high school teacher won a volunteer award, he wondered who it could be. Then he heard his own name.

The award is for his work with the Computers for Schools program, teaching students to refurbish computers.

When companies donate old computers, obsolete in the workplace, Bieri teaches students to upgrade and reassemble them. Eventually, these computers will go to schools across Nunavut.

"It's an extra computer for a class. Considering we get them for free, it's great," he says. "And for the students, I hope it's a good work experience."

The program, a partnership of the federal government, and the private and volunteer sectors, began in 1993. For the last three years, the government of Nunavut has paid for the upgrading of computers in the territory.

This year, Bieri will run the program out of Inuksuk high school.

"It was Marc that was the key individual," says Paul Meggs, information technology developer, Department of Education. "He was willing to give this a shot."

Meggs says students who train in computers are "practically guaranteed a job because we are starved for information technologists in this region."

He adds the project couldn't come at a better time -- Nunavut Arctic College plans to revive its computer specialist program next fall.

Meggs says recycling computers also keeps the hardware -- full of hazardous chemicals -- out of the dump.

The department also gave Arctic Express owner Corey Stewart an award for donating services to the project.