Every student should have a tablet PC by May: Woravat

THE NATION

The government's One Tablet PC per Child policy will be fully implemented by May, Education Minister Woravat Auapinyakul pledged yesterday.

"We will try to give tablet PCs to all students in primary and secondary school," he said, adding that vocational students would also get the tablets.

He was speaking in response to reports that due to a limited budget, the tablets would first be handed out to Prathom 1 students only. "I am looking for additional funds," he said.

In response to comments that the tablets might not be useful for some vocational subjects, Woravat said the devices would serve as a learning tool, giving students access to other materials.

The One Tablet PC Per Child policy was one of the many campaign promises made by the ruling Pheu Thai Party.

"We have set a goal and we will achieve it," the education minister insisted.

While Woravat was keen to implement Pheu Thai's election policies, he paid little attention to the New Breed of Teachers project launched by the previous government. "It's not a main policy of the current government," he said. "I will push for this government's policies first."

However, he said, he had no intention to scrap or suspend projects introduced by his predecessors and that he would look into the details of the project later.

"Today, the country must move to stay competitive in the international arena. We can't pin all our hopes on a new-breed of teachers alone," Woravat said.

Assoc Prof Piniti Ratananukul, deputy secretary-general of the Office of Higher Education Commission (Ohec), said the Thailand Education Deans Council was seeking clarity on the teacher project. "We will raise the issue with the education minister," Piniti said.

According to him, Ohec is seeking Bt278.7 million to operate the project in the next fiscal year but it has yet to hear from Woravat.

According to a previous Cabinet resolution, the New Breed of Teachers Project was to be implemented this year and run until 2015, expecting to produce 30,000 new-breed teachers for the country.

"I can explain the needs for the project," Piniti added.

-- The Nation 2011-12-15

The ever-changing goal posts.

This is a far cry from the latest previous change to issuing tablet computers to only selected first graders.

The new change will encompass around providing some 11 million tablet computers.... and in six months.

Something tells me this is not the last change in plans for the scheme.

But wasn't it reported a few weeks back that, far from extending the offer to older-students as-well-as Grade-1 pupils, there would only be sufficient tablet-PCs for about half of Grade-1s ?

Either a new source of funds has been found, or this is a promise which may be off-message, only time will tell.

Give it 7 months and pawn shops will have millions at a discounted price.

Edited December 15, 201114 yr by glenfaux

Give it 7 months and porn shops will have millions at a discounted price.

We hope you meant to say "pawn shops"!

Give it 7 months and porn shops will have millions at a discounted price.

We hope you meant to say "pawn shops"!

Whoops!

It is a little early.

So in the future when I get on the skytrain I will see hundreds of kids playing games on their new tablet PC's instead of seeing them reading dumb cartoon books! Education system in Thailand leaping ahead again! Hub of education!!!

But wasn't it reported a few weeks back that, far from extending the offer to older-students as-well-as Grade-1 pupils, there would only be sufficient tablet-PCs for about half of Grade-1s ?

Either a new source of funds has been found, or this is a promise which may be off-message, only time will tell.

"I am looking for additional funds," he said.

Looks like they are still smoken that hash.

Do you have to put your child's name on a register to receive one?

But wasn't it reported a few weeks back that, far from extending the offer to older-students as-well-as Grade-1 pupils, there would only be sufficient tablet-PCs for about half of Grade-1s ?

Either a new source of funds has been found, or this is a promise which may be off-message, only time will tell.

Education Minister: "I am looking for additional funds"

Better hurry up. To deliver 11 million computers with all the associated infrastructure and teacher training within 6 months doesn't leave much time to find a Money Tree growing in a National Park.

btw, Ricardo, you're right about them scaling it way down from the election promise... but now with the floods solved, tourism soaring, and the economy booming, it's time to return to the original promise.

EDIT TO ADD:

Actually, they're not returning to the original promise. They've expanded it tremendously to now include 800 vocational education institutions with thousands of students to the list receiving computers.

.

Edited December 15, 201114 yr by Buchholz

So in the future when I get on the skytrain I will see hundreds of kids playing games on their new tablet PC's instead of seeing them reading dumb cartoon books! Education system in Thailand leaping ahead again! Hub of education!!!

Exactly. My daughter (next year primary school) will be happy to show her fellow students how to find the gaming websites.

""I can explain the needs for the ( New Breed of Teachers) project," Piniti added."

He can explain until he turns blue, it won't get funding for any project started by the Democrats. That's why Thais now pay B30 for health care, even the revenue raised is lost in the cost of administration, because free health was a Dem policy.

But hey, once they've got a tablet PC, teacher's will be unnecessary.

What a dumb idea. How many parents of kids will sell them?

How many kids will now learn nothing because they will be playing games?

How many teenage boys will be looking at porn all night?

How many kids in 10 years time will not be able to add 5+3 without a calculator or computer?

They don't have (or don't give) money for basic education and equipment like tables, chairs, books but they waste money on tablets!

It's good to know OBEC has it's priorities straight.

I am involved in a teacher's training program, where we try to teach rural teachers how to teach English. You wouldn't believe the level of their knowledge! So private initiatives are needed to improve the situation.

This tablet policy is one big waste of money and effort. Thailand needs much more basic education of teachers, not gadgets for students.

Do you have to put your child's name on a register to receive one?

Your child need to be in a local government school.

International school don't count.

Anyway, I am sure he/she has one already, probably your used machine.

[...]

How many teenage boys will be looking at porn all night?

[...]

You forgot to mention the teenage girls.

Forget the need for training how do you dig up 11 million tablets in such a short time that is probably one year supply for the world. At least the guy is trying

Do you have to put your child's name on a register to receive one?

The childres have to register their natural fathers name.... Oops... that just halved the quota...!

Forget the need for training how do you dig up 11 million tablets in such a short time that is probably one year supply for the world. At least the guy is trying

Indeed his nonsense is very tryiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggg.

Forget the need for training how do you dig up 11 million tablets in such a short time that is probably one year supply for the world. At least the guy is trying

Problem solved

Approval awaiting to let vocational students assemble tablet PCs

http://www.thainewsagency.com/english/education-news/2011/08/29/approval-awaiting-to-let-vocational-students-assemble-tablet-pcs/

I would take a bet that the tablets received by the students are not the same as those in the picture at the top.

Total waste of money that could be much better spent in other ways.

Perhaps they might set up a production-line, in the new Red-Shirt Detention-Facility, thus helping the kids and also keeping idle-hands busy ?

I would take a bet that the tablets received by the students are not the same as those in the picture at the top.

Total waste of money that could be much better spent in other ways.

It's certainly not going to be the 18,900 baht tablet that Yingluck so proudly displayed to parents on the campaign trail before the election.

Not unless they plan to spend 200 Billion Baht plus plus

Yingluck Shinawatra, the sister of toppled former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra and the prime ministerial candidate for the country's biggest opposition Puea Thai party, holds up a Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet computer as she speaks to supporters in Bangkok June 18, 2011.

What about funds for those who don't have a book to study or don't even have a school to go to?

This budget is too wasted which probably half go to the policy maker.

Samsung must love Thailand. Many government staff have been given good spec Samsung laptops and tabs recently.

Wonder if availability is due to Apple lawsuits blocking sales in some countries.

What a dumb idea. How many parents of kids will sell them?

How many kids will now learn nothing because they will be playing games?

How many teenage boys will be looking at porn all night?

How many kids in 10 years time will not be able to add 5+3 without a calculator or computer?

I had hoped the expat community in Thailand was more interest in the educational development of the country's children than making cheap comments. I recall, from the technology forum of TV, that a few months ago a Thai company, yes a Thai company, had devloped a tablet computer that would sell for about $100 and be pre-poaded with Thai educational software; Internet connection is through a controlled portal that blocked pornography , gaming sites and other undesireable websites. I do not know whether that company will be the chosen supplier for the tablet computers.

Yes, some of the educational programs will be games. There is nothing wrong with that, in fact it is a good thing - learning should be fun. My kids had educational games (English, maths and science) on the home computer 20 years ago. It certainly helped their education and was recommended by their teachers. Incidentally, they went to very good schools with high academic standards. If it is good enough in the West, why should Thai students not have the same advantage?

But wasn't it reported a few weeks back that, far from extending the offer to older-students as-well-as Grade-1 pupils, there would only be sufficient tablet-PCs for about half of Grade-1s ?

8 weeks ago, the same guy was talking about scaling back to the already limited to 1st graders.

"We won't distribute them to all Prathom 1 [Grade 1] students in every school."

- Education Minister Woravat Auapinyakul

from the fork-pointing thread:

Thai Government Scales Down Plan To Give Free Tablet Computers

One would hope, rather than place an order with an overseas manufacturer, that the government has thought this through and uses the opportunity to set up a domestic supply operation providing local jobs. An order of this magnitude must surely be enough to tempt a manufacturer to set up in Thailand especially since there is already a large electronics manufacturing industry here.

It will be interesting to see where they actually come from and if the opportunity is grasped to benefit the whole country or if the contract goes to some faceless factory in China with dubious ownership???

What a dumb idea. How many parents of kids will sell them?

How many kids will now learn nothing because they will be playing games?

How many teenage boys will be looking at porn all night?

How many kids in 10 years time will not be able to add 5+3 without a calculator or computer?

I had hoped the expat community in Thailand was more interest in the educational development of the country's children than making cheap comments. I recall, from the technology forum of TV, that a few months ago a Thai company, yes a Thai company, had devloped a tablet computer that would sell for about $100 and be pre-poaded with Thai educational software; Internet connection is through a controlled portal that blocked pornography , gaming sites and other undesireable websites. I do not know whether that company will be the chosen supplier for the tablet computers.

Yes, some of the educational programs will be games. There is nothing wrong with that, in fact it is a good thing - learning should be fun. My kids had educational games (English, maths and science) on the home computer 20 years ago. It certainly helped their education and was recommended by their teachers. Incidentally, they went to very good schools with high academic standards. If it is good enough in the West, why should Thai students not have the same advantage?

I take it you are all in favor of Technology.

Personally I believe the students would be better served with better teachers.

I notice your children learned from games.

Do you not realize that most kids already know how to game.

What is needed is students with the ability to add two plus two and come up with four without a calculator or computer.

First things first. Educate them in the basics then give them a tool to improve the basics on.

Not give them a tool to replace learning the basics.

Are you saying that gaming is good.

I agree but I do believe it's value as a learning tool is vastly over rated.