PM hands out first free tablets
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After waiting for months that the government announced its policy of distributing tablets to Prathom 1 (Grade 1) students across the country, the One Tablet Per Child (OTPC) project was yesterday kicked off officially.
The government was proud that this policy finally began, as it was an urgent policy that the government announced to the Parliament, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said after she presided over the official launch of the OTPC project at the Government House.
Yingluck gave the tablets to representatives of Prathom 1 students, educational supervisors and teachers to mark a start of the OTPC project.
Many teachers and students from different schools were reportedly enthusiastic to try using the tablets at an exhibition of tablet use.
Information and Communication Technology Minister Anudith Nakornthap denied rumours of tablet quality problem. He insisted that the first batch of 2,000 tablets did not have any problems about their quality. The minister had already allow Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development, the manufacturer to produce more tablets. Therefore, the second batch of 400,000 units would be sent to Thailand in July. Next batch would be in August.
The company can produce around 25,000 per day.
She added that Prathom 1 students were in proper ages (6-7 years old) of learning and adjusting to technological tool use. The premier also urged teachers to follow up and record their students’ development for comparison.
“Even though, it has taken long time to implement the policy, relevant ministers are happy when seeing students’ happy smiles and eyes. We hope that this project will arouse them to love learning. After they are fulfilled with technology, they will be able to learn in an unlimited way.
Education Minister Suchart Thada-Thamrongvech vowed to push forward the project seriously.
He also said research on tablet use in Grade 1 students in Chicago found satisfactory results that students had spent longer time on learning, reading and writing practising and knowledge summarising. After two years of doing a pilot project in that state, a plan to expand the project with full-scale use has been created.
