Govt delays deal-signing as deadline guarantee missed
The Information and Communications Technology Ministry has delayed the signing of a contract to purchase Chinese tablet computers for Prathom 1 students until Tuesday after Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development failed to produce a guarantee from the Bank
ICT Minister Anudith Nakornthap said both sides needed to have all the required documents ready before the deal can be signed, and the Thai side was ready.
The ministry informed the Chinese supplier in the afternoon that the Office of the Attorney-General had just finished its review of the contract and asked the company to prepare the documents to complete the deal.
However, the Chinese manufacturer could not get a standby guarantee for 5 per cent of the project value by the deadline, he said.
The Bt1.9-billion project has proceeded in strict compliance with all laws and regulations, he said.
The One Tablet Per Child policy was a hallmark of the Pheu Thai Party’s winning election campaign.
The ruling party has been determined to push the project through despite words of caution from many sides regarding not only the cost of the programme but the possibility that the devices will be used inappropriately.
The project will distribute 900,000 tablets from the Chinese supplier to Prathom 1 students.
All of the tablets should be delivered by July, with the first batch of about 2,000 to reach teachers early next month, he said.
He declined to give more details of the devices, pending the sealing of the deal.
