BANGKOK, 24 April 2012 – The Education Minister is not confident that the tablet PCs will be available for students in time for the first semester of 2012; however, model devices will be prepared for the training of teachers.
Education Minister Suchart Thadathamrongvej has indicated that the tablet PCs for Prathom One students may not be acquired in time for the start of the new academic year and might affect the learning process of children. In the meantime, books will be distributed to students as learning materials alongside the use of electronic devices. The ministry will make enquiries on the matter to the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) which is responsible for the acquisition of the tablet PCs. However, if the devices fail to be delivered on schedule, the ministry will purchase a sufficient number of tablets PCs sold in Thailand for the purpose of training teachers.
Meanwhile, the proposed 500 million-baht budget for 2013 will focus on “book coupons” to promote reading among poor children. The 300-baht coupons, which can be redeemed for books at bookstores, will be distributed to 2.5 million underprivileged children, hilltribe children and foreign children born in Thailand, studying in Prathom One to Prathom Six. It is expected that the policy will be carried out continuously for the next 2-3 years. Mr. Suchart explained that the coupon distribution will be carried out under a limited budget and is intended for poor children to cultivate the passion for reading among them.
