Free tablets on their own not enough

The Pheu Thai Party's plan to give 800,000 tablet devices to schoolchildren at prathom 1 level will only improve the educational system, as intended, if the entire policy is well implemented, according to a veteran educator.

The man, a university educator who asked that his identity not be revealed, said it would be a waste of money if the new government simply gave away 800,000 tablet PCs to schoolchildren and did no more than that.

He said it would be better to launch a pilot project by giving away between 1,000 and 2,000 tablet devices to schools that were ready to adopt innovative teaching and learning methods, and where wireless Internet access was available.

If the pilot project was successful, then it could be expanded step by step to cover additional schools.

He said that giving away the devices and digitising existing textbooks was not enough to guarantee that schoolchildren would benefit from the policy. The government has to help teachers and students to adjust their instruction and learning methods in order to reap maximum benefits from digital technology.

Schools also need to design new ways of teaching and evaluating the results of learning.

"The tablet devices are good for reading, not for writing. Therefore, it would be better to give away laptop PCs than tablet devices," he said.

The Pheu Thai Party has yet to reveal the full details of its plan, the specifications of the tablets, or how the policy will be implemented.

According to its ICT policy, the party has focused on three main things: First, providing free tablet computers with courseware to all 800,000 students at prathom 1 level, with the aim of increasing and improving the quality of education. This will cost about Bt5 billion.

Second, making high-speed broadband Internet networks - including both fixed and wireless connections - available throughout the country as soon as possible. This implies an offer of free Wi-Fi services in public areas, including schools, communities, governmental areas and tourism places, and making 3G networks available as soon as possible.

Third, increasing computer literacy, with a project to train people in the use of e-mail and moving forward with ICT Community Centres by aiming to make them into e-commerce hubs in communities throughout the country. This project will be conducted on a public-private partnership model.

Local industrialists have welcomed the party's promise to give free tablet computers to schoolchildren, but say local content should be offered along with them.

They say the free-tablet scheme will only be successful if broadband Internet access is widely available and the government drives the development of local content.

Voices within the industry agree that tablets on their own will be of no use, and suggest simultaneous support for local-content development.