Plans To Distribute Computers To Schools Nationwide Concluded

[Jai Dee]

Plans to distribute computers to schools nationwide concluded.

Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang (จาตุรนต์ ฉายแสง) indicated that details in the plan to distribute 250,000 computers to schools nationwide have been concluded, while the bidding process will be submitted for cabinet approval soon.

Mr. Chaturon said that the computers will be distributed to schools where there are capable personnel to use the machines, adding that the geographic terrains and transport routes will also be considered. He added that the bidding process has also been changed. Instead of ordering parts separately, the computers will be bought in lots in 9 items, to save time and budgets while the responsible person will be clearly identified. He said that the objective of the project remains allowing vocational students learn how to build computers from parts. However, the education minister added that the proposals will be submitted in two formats-- the separate-item bidding format and the bundle-bidding format--to the cabinet for consideration.

The education miniter said that a sub-committee has also proposed a change in specification for computer screen from CLT to LCD, as LCD is newer and there are many problems found in CLT screen. However, he said that budgetary issues will be deliberated as the newer one costs 2-3 times more than the one one.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 Febuary 2006

[Ijustwannateach]

Well, it's surely good that the details have been concluded and that the responsible person will be identified.

"Steven"

[chuchok]

The education miniter said that a sub-committee has also proposed a change in specification for computer screen from CLT to LCD, as LCD is newer and there are many problems found in CLT screen. However, he said that budgetary issues will be deliberated as the newer one costs 2-3 times more than the one one.

Come again?

[PeaceBlondie]

Yeah, it's great that the planners at the Educamashun Ministry have finally planned how to plan the plan, more or less almost, kind of, somewhat. And how many vocational students know how to assemble computers correctly? How well is your computer assembled that you buy at Panthip Plaza? How many schools have computer instructors who can get these assembled computers up and keep them running?

Boondoggle.

[Sporting Dog]

Buying a computer is the easy part...keeping it running and used properly (in an educational sense) is INFINITELY harder. In my (limited) experience with computing at school is - no-one can administer the networks properly, no-one wants to get involved, the students waste their time in computer classes and finally the money would be better spent on reducing class sizes, creating a better curriculum or providing better text or library books.

To me this exercise has NOTHING to do with educating students...we have 100+ computers at my school but VERY little work of value gets done on them. I have taught IT this year and NEVER again!!

[Plus]

CLT and LCD - haven't you seen those flat monitos in fancy offices? Surely they cost 2-3 times more than conventional CLT displays, and here lies the problem, CLTs are so cheap they don't leave any margin for tea money.

And for most purposes CLTs are still superior to LCDs - speed, viewing angles, price etc. If students want to play latest games, they'll need CLTs.

If schools want to save desk space, and look cool, they need LCDs.

[PeaceBlondie]

Then again, isn't this more of a public relations lie by the usually lieing PR branch of the Thai government, lieing about a plan to do something they'll never do, or won't do even half well?

How many Thai Elite cards have been sold for full price? How many educational reforms have really, actually been implemented successfully?

Don't worry about the different between CLIT and LOCD panels; it won't happen anyway.

[Jai Dee]

The proposal for procurement of 250,000 computers for schools will be submitted to cabinet for approval next week.

Education Minister Jaturon Chaisang (จาตุรนต์ ฉายแสง) indicated that the proposal for procurement of 250,000 computers for schools will be submitted to cabinet for approval next week.

Mr. Jaturon said that on February 22, the Ministry will propose the procurement project of 250,000 computers to the cabinet for consideration. He said that the Office of Higher Education has submitted the matter to Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Information and Communications Telecommunications Minister Dr. Suchai Charoenrattanakul (สุชัย เจริญรัตนกุล). He said that the proposal is aimed at buying computer parts which have not been assembled, adding that it is hard to complete the project in time, but he will try his best.

As for allocation of computers to schools, Mr. Jaturon said that the computers will be divided into lots, but said that he cannot indicate the number of computers to be transferred in the first lot, as many factors still need to be considered.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 Febuary 2006

[Ijustwannateach]

Well, we sure are lucky the plans have been concluded now, except for the many factors that need to be considered and the fact that it's hard to complete on time. Have they identified the responsible person yet?

[Jai Dee]

Computer procurement deal will proceed despite election.

Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang (จาตุรนต์ ฉายแสง) will proceed with the procurement deal for 250,000 computers without waiting for the election results, adding that he does not hope for any gains.

Mr. Chaturon revealed that Vice Education Minister Kiti Limsakul (กิติ ลิ่มสกุล) and related committee members have prepared to proceed with the procurement of computers for schools nationwide. He said that the deal will be presented to the committee on the project which will study the proposal on March 16th. After that, Mr. Chaturon said, the project will be carried out and the computers will be bought without waiting for election results for a new Cabinet, as he said that the project has received approval since last year, adding that this is not related to election campaign. He said that if the project is delayed, the students who are waiting for the computers will be affected. He said that the Education Ministry will try to allocate computers to schools nationwide before the next semester.

Mr. Chaturon also commented on the Cabinet’s resolution which changes procurement method from hiring of vocational students to build computers to buying ready-to-use ones, saying that vocational schools are not affected from the change, as usually they have many joint projects with private sector. However, he said that the ministry may hire vocational students to build computers after this project.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 March 2006

[penzman]

[astral]

250,000 does not sound like many computers per school...........

I remember my Thai son's primary school. It was a government school.

They had 3 computers. The children never got to use them and

they were turned off most of the time.

The youngest went to a private school and they had a room with 30 machines and

lessons were part of the curriculum. They even had sessions in the holidays and he would beg

to be allowed to attend.

Edited March 22, 2006 by astral

[Ijustwannateach]

I recently did a charity visit to a school way out in the country side... the parents there can't even afford an extra 1B per student per day to provide breakfast for them. That would be a much better use of government money, however I suppose free breakfast is harder to get pork kickbacks from- love the pic above!!!

"Steven"