"One Tablet Per Child" tablet manufacturer goes bankrupt

[webfact]

"One Tablet Per Child" tablet manufacturer goes bankrupt



BANGKOK, 4 January 2014 (NNT) - The Chinese tablet PC manufacturer for the “One Tablet per Child” program by the Ministry of Education has gone into bankruptcy and expressed its intention to terminate the deal.

Advisor to Minister of Education Kitti Limsakul said on Monday that the Shenzhen Yitao Intelligence Control company, the winner of the tablet procurement auction for Grade 1 students in four regions, was closed down on 30 January 2014. The company had already informed the Office of the Basic Education Commission of its business closure and requested for the table deal cancellation.

The company confirmed it still wanted to take part in the tablet program but it wrestled with the problem of delayed delivery, the advisor said

Mr Kitti said an urgent meeting between the “One Tablet Per Child” program would be held to solve the situation and confirmed the ministry would not scrap the program.


-- NNT 2014-02-04

[Thai at Heart]

Oh my lord.

Please don't tell me that they hadn't made an 80% deposit on the next delivery.

[Siripon]

I can see it now, thousands of angry Prathom 1 kids blocking roads, brandishing useless tablets, saying they've been duped by the government.

Yet another headache for the Pheua Thai ice cream spin doctors to deal with.

[JRSoul]

k.Kitti is not likely to have much say in the issue, as he is soon to be unemployed.

[uty6543]

Oh my lord.

Please don't tell me that they hadn't made an 80% deposit on the next delivery.

It's more likely that they hadn't paid them at all!!!!

[Thait Spot]

Choosing this small non-tablet specialising company is rather like picking a Chinese tourist company to sell rice to.

Look beyond the smoke.

Follow the money

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Thai at Heart]

Oh my lord.

Please don't tell me that they hadn't made an 80% deposit on the next delivery.

It's more likely that they hadn't paid them at all!!!!

Depends on who owns that factory.

[millwall_fan]

I had the pleasure of teaching a few lessons in government schools in Chiang Mai a few months ago and met some wonderful teachers and very committed pupils. The conditions of the buildings and the lack of basic textbooks and equipment were lamentable though. If the tablet money had been spent on that and giving the teachers a decent salary it would have provided the major improvement in education that the country so badly needs. On the other hand we live in the IT age and how else are kids to get the tablets? - parents certainly couldn't afford them on 9,000 Baht a month - even assuming they are receiving the minimum wage, which many aren't. Of course the 'bungs' to everyone in the education ministry, would have helped steer their minds into the tablet direction - not many bungs from new desks.

[Somtamnication]

Tablet never worked. My son got one last year. It turned on for a few minutes then turned off. Got a new one. Turned on for 30 minutes, was full of Lite educational programs. Never lasted longer than 10 minutes.

Complete garbage, useless and no one uses them in class. This company and the greased palms need to be investigated.

[noikrit]

There will be a lot more to this story in the coming days ......

[JRSoul]

I had the pleasure of teaching a few lessons in government schools in Chiang Mai a few months ago and met some wonderful teachers and very committed pupils. The conditions of the buildings and the lack of basic textbooks and equipment were lamentable though. If the tablet money had been spent on that and giving the teachers a decent salary it would have provided the major improvement in education that the country so badly needs. On the other hand we live in the IT age and how else are kids to get the tablets? - parents certainly couldn't afford them on 9,000 Baht a month - even assuming they are receiving the minimum wage, which many aren't. Of course the 'bungs' to everyone in the education ministry, would have helped steer their minds into the tablet direction - not many bungs from new desks.

There was a subsidy on uniforms and texts to help parents keep the children in school, and it was very popular. Guess why it was cancelled?

[2008bangkok]

According to some news article Thailand spend the most in the WORLD on education lol

Makes me wonder why I have I pay for everything at my kids semi government school

[SABloke]

Tablets, tables, cancellations and continuations. This article is as clear as mud

Sent from my GT-S7270 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Mosha]

I had the pleasure of teaching a few lessons in government schools in Chiang Mai a few months ago and met some wonderful teachers and very committed pupils. The conditions of the buildings and the lack of basic textbooks and equipment were lamentable though. If the tablet money had been spent on that and giving the teachers a decent salary it would have provided the major improvement in education that the country so badly needs. On the other hand we live in the IT age and how else are kids to get the tablets? - parents certainly couldn't afford them on 9,000 Baht a month - even assuming they are receiving the minimum wage, which many aren't. Of course the 'bungs' to everyone in the education ministry, would have helped steer their minds into the tablet direction - not many bungs from new desks.

There was a subsidy on uniforms and texts to help parents keep the children in school, and it was very popular. Guess why it was cancelled?

If I was a cynic lol I'd day cos Thaksin didn't think of it..

[virtualtraveller]

That's the risk you get from buying $100 tablets and expecting them to be good enough to educate children with. It's not economically sustainable. They forgot to look into that one.

[OMGImInPattaya]

Choosing this small non-tablet specialising company is rather like picking a Chinese tourist company to sell rice to.

Look beyond the smoke.

Follow the money

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Yes it would be very interesting to see the shareholder roll of the Shenzhen Yitao Intelligence Control Company. Also wouldn't be surprised if the funds for the tablet contract were already paid and the company still went bankrupt after paying a likely fat shareholders' dividend.

[Yunla]

I had the pleasure of teaching a few lessons in government schools in Chiang Mai a few months ago and met some wonderful teachers and very committed pupils. The conditions of the buildings and the lack of basic textbooks and equipment were lamentable though. If the tablet money had been spent on that and giving the teachers a decent salary it would have provided the major improvement in education that the country so badly needs. On the other hand we live in the IT age and how else are kids to get the tablets? - parents certainly couldn't afford them on 9,000 Baht a month - even assuming they are receiving the minimum wage, which many aren't. Of course the 'bungs' to everyone in the education ministry, would have helped steer their minds into the tablet direction - not many bungs from new desks.

School PCs are the way to go. We had those as far back as the 1980s (BBC Microcomputers & Acorn Electrons!) and they are fine, you just have to wait your turn, but you can read books while you wait. I personally liked books better (and still do!)

One or two PCs per class is fine. At my school we had a couple of library PCs, and one PC per class, and lots of books. And learning standards were perfectly acceptable. We also learned to queue up to use the PCs, respect other students' rights, and to use our allotted computer time wisely. All useful adult skills.

You are totally right that this money (and a lot more besides) should be spent on school buildings, new books, and school workers. And just get a few basic PCs.

The idea of owning your own personal tech is something you work towards as an adult, same as mopeds cars etc. It isn't a human-right and it certainly isn't in a nation with mass-poverty and pressing infrastructure concerns.

Edited February 4, 2014 by Yunla

[tonytigerbkk]

I had the pleasure of teaching a few lessons in government schools in Chiang Mai a few months ago and met some wonderful teachers and very committed pupils. The conditions of the buildings and the lack of basic textbooks and equipment were lamentable though. If the tablet money had been spent on that and giving the teachers a decent salary it would have provided the major improvement in education that the country so badly needs. On the other hand we live in the IT age and how else are kids to get the tablets? - parents certainly couldn't afford them on 9,000 Baht a month - even assuming they are receiving the minimum wage, which many aren't. Of course the 'bungs' to everyone in the education ministry, would have helped steer their minds into the tablet direction - not many bungs from new desks.

There was a subsidy on uniforms and texts to help parents keep the children in school, and it was very popular. Guess why it was cancelled?

Yingluck needed a new Prada handbag?

[noitom]

The winner of the bid goes bankrupt. Is this a Thai-Chinese company operating in Thailand? Let's see if the DSI tries to gather evidence and investigate.

[Valentine]

Seems convenient. As someone else said "follow the money".

[ginjag]

Whoever started the slogan "follow the money" hit the nail on the head.

Most you will find has gone down the bottomless pit. Crap materials, GOOD THINKING INITIALLY--but stupid idea. One of many election pledges gone down the wrong road.

Surely people are entitled to know who owns the company/or is connected to it.

Table PCs allocated to each classroom much cheaper and have a long life. But before you can provide anything ---1 = electricity needed in all schools. 2= power points to provide connections. 3 = teachers training to use the PCs.

[zaphodbeeblebrox]

I assume that the due diligence performed by the Yingluck administration was impeccable before they entered into a contract with this fly-by-night Chinese tablet manufacturer.

[boomerangutang]

The tablet idea was flawed for many reasons. It was conceived by Thaksin ('T thinks, PT acts'). When you put a mega-selfish liar in charge of national policies, don't be surprised if things deteriorate: Rice pledging (bankrupt) / new car purchase incentives (gridlock) / war on drugs (extra-judicial murders).

[Chupup]

Bankrupt .........yea right another scam gone tits up maybe

[ramrod711]

Apple went bankrupt??? Oh wait, it wasn't Apple, Yingluck was lying when she held up her i-pad for the cameras and said they will all get a tablet "just like mine". No surprise to anyone i'm sure.

[ginjag]

Apple went bankrupt??? Oh wait, it wasn't Apple, Yingluck was lying when she held up her i-pad for the cameras and said they will all get a tablet "just like mine". No surprise to anyone i'm sure.

I believe Yingluck in one photo 3 years ago, held up a SAMSUNG to show. That is why there was excitement at the time.

[trogers]

I had the pleasure of teaching a few lessons in government schools in Chiang Mai a few months ago and met some wonderful teachers and very committed pupils. The conditions of the buildings and the lack of basic textbooks and equipment were lamentable though. If the tablet money had been spent on that and giving the teachers a decent salary it would have provided the major improvement in education that the country so badly needs. On the other hand we live in the IT age and how else are kids to get the tablets? - parents certainly couldn't afford them on 9,000 Baht a month - even assuming they are receiving the minimum wage, which many aren't. Of course the 'bungs' to everyone in the education ministry, would have helped steer their minds into the tablet direction - not many bungs from new desks.

Yes, most provincial and village schools have the same buildings and conditions as they were when parents were studying their primary education there. That's one generation without any improvement.

But then, how can palms in the central authorities be greased if the budget is broken into thousands of pieces and decentralised?

Edited February 4, 2014 by metisdead
30) Do not modify someone else's post in your quoted reply, either with font or color changes, added emoticons, or altered wording.

[Yunla]

Apple went bankrupt??? Oh wait, it wasn't Apple, Yingluck was lying when she held up her i-pad for the cameras and said they will all get a tablet "just like mine". No surprise to anyone i'm sure.

I'm guessing she has moved onto other tablets now ; antidepressants. She certainly looks a bit zonked in the recent photos.

[MaxLee]

Dear parents, hit the streets and block the local roads on the school ways, because your 1st graders are getting cheated as much as the rice and rubber farmers... pleeeeaaaaase. Or block the schools and teachers' offices or school directories all together, because your kids won't learn anything useful in their lives for their whole school life anyway.

... your kids can learn better from LIN, Facebook or youtube anyway than from any form of what is called EDUCATION aka brainwashing test-oriented, FAIL-or-NO-FAIL policy....

[Pimay1]

The winner of the bid goes bankrupt. Is this a Thai-Chinese company operating in Thailand? Let's see if the DSI tries to gather evidence and investigate.

This from 4-traders website.

ShenZhen Yitoa Intelligent Control CoLtd : Shenzhen Yitoa Terminates Cooperation with Thai Partner

SHENZHEN, December 31, SinoCast -- Shenzhen Yitoa Intelligent Control Co., Ltd. (SZSE: 300131) revealed that cooperative agreement has been inked with Intech Thai Technology on promoting educational tablets in Thailand. However, affected by procurement budget for 2014 by local government, promotion in the nation has not been so effective although Intech Thai Technology has put money and labor forces. Hence, in consideration of changing policies, both parties agreed to terminate their cooperation after rounds of talks.

http://www.4-traders.com/SHENZHEN-YITOA-INTELLIGEN-9065150/news/ShenZhen-Yitoa-Intelligent-Control-CoLtd--Shenzhen-Yitoa-Terminates-Cooperation-with-Thai-Partner-17738282/