BT has launched a three-year global development partnership with charity Unicef that will include investing £1.5m into bringing education, technology and communications skills to children in South Africa, Brazil and China.

In addition to installing 250 computers, BT’s investment will renovate schools and build additional classrooms and state-of-the-art computer labs.

'Those of us who have grown up with technology often take it for granted,' said Andy Green, chief executive of BT Global Services.

'By teaming up with Unicef and supporting the South African Government’s educational priorities, we hope to help Unicef bring the benefits and opportunities of technology to children and young people in some of the country’s most remote and poorly resourced communities.'

In the first year, the BT and Unicef partnership aims to reach 18,000 children.

Some 150 head teachers and administrators will also be trained in effective school management and leadership skills, while a research study into the impact of the programme will also be undertaken.