BANGKOK, July 18- Thailand’s Ministry of Education Ministry began delivering 55,000 tablet computers Wednesday to primary students in the first eight provinces, and plans to expand the mini-computer project to include distributions to Grade 7 students.
Education Minister Suchart Thada-Thamrongvech and ICT Minister Minister Anudith Nakornthap presided at the delivery ceremony for a total of 55,000 tablet computers to Prathom One (Grade 1) students in the first eight provinces– Krabi, Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Khon Kaen, Chanthaburi and Chachoengsao.
After delivering the first batch of tablet computers, the ministry will gradually deliver the mini-computers to Grade 1 students in other provinces.
Under the government’s One Tablet Per Child programme, about 860,000 tablet computers are to be presented to Grade 1 students across the country.
Mr Suchart said that using the tablet computers in school will help enhance the country’s education revolution as well as the students’ learning potential.
In addition, the ministry planned to expand the tablet programme and complete the purchase in November, intending to distribute 700,000 mini-computers to Matthayom One (Grade 7) students.
The ministry will invite the private sector to sponsor the tablet computers for Grade 2 students.
Meanwhile, Mr Anudith said that the ICT’s procurement committee conducted a random sampling with 500 and found seven of them with some errors, in particular errors about the touchscreen display.
Still, the flaws discovered in the random sample met the procurement criteria and were considered acceptable.
