Thread: First tablet PCs going out to kids soon

Originally Posted by Thaihome

I wonder if this requirement, which when put into a TOR is often used to exclude disfavored bidders, is backfiring and now the favored bidder cannot actually produce it.

Have to say I don't know a huge amount about the logistics of these big international order things. but if its been done arse about face, as you say, one has to wonder if this has been done by someone with the intention of soliciting a bribe from the manufacture for fixing the problem.

As for the speed of the roll out, I don't think you can criticise them for being slow, it might have been slower than they promised, but i think given the size and complexity of the order, they have acted as quickly as the thai government can.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

The One Tablet Per Child policy was a hallmark of the Pheu Thai Party's winning election campaign.

I would have thought that the voters would have seen that 300 Bhat minimum wage offer as being far more important than the tablets. but one thing in favour of the tablet project is that, unlike the minimum wage policy, it does not have a negative impact on the rich people running pt.

This is more important to kids than your shite could ever be.
Many of the kids will become leaders. Is that you do not want?
Keep them uneducated and good gardeners and petrol station workers and maids? Even if you are a loser shit on western dole who we the taxpayers pay you, 6000 baht a month? Want to have your sex for cheap? I fuc?ing despise you.
This goes on without you. Kids will get their computers and they will learn. I hope some day they you will fuck you all over. Though you must have escaped by OD by then.

Originally Posted by nostromo

This is more important to kids than your shite could ever be.
Many of the kids will become leaders. Is that you do not want?
Keep them uneducated and good gardeners and petrol station workers and maids? Even if you are a loser shit on western dole who we the taxpayers pay you, 6000 baht a month? Want to have your sex for cheap? I fuc?ing despise you.
This goes on without you. Kids will get their computers and they will learn. I hope some day they you will fuck you all over. Though you must have escaped by OD by then.

If they wanted to learn they could very affordably pick up and read a book. How many Thais do you see reading books, except comics and mobile phone catalogues? Most of the supposed beneficiaries of the program can be found in the countless internet shops that litter the country with perfectly good internet access.....playing "Angry Birds".

The tablets will be next to useless as a learning tool. Teaching has nothing to do with the tablet program, PT has simply realised that kids love gadgets and semi literate/ illiterate parents believe in voodoo magic quick fixes. After all, don't hisos have Ipads? It creates a sense of belonging which perfectly complements their total unfamiliarity with any relationship between long term application, effort, competent teaching and acedemic achievement.

Like the "Gold Card" health scheme, it makes the peasants feel good but has zero substance - but hey - "it's a GOLD CARD!"

The feudal nature of Thai society will never tolerate critical thinking unless something fairly major - and very bloody - happens. Do you really believe that a country that bans a play based on a Shakespeare play only two days ago actually cares whether these kids learn or not?

Originally Posted by nostromo

Many of the kids will become leaders. Is that you do not want?.

Some will undoubtably reach the giddy heights of "cashier", "MaccyD Team Leader" or "Mamasan". For them to aspire to anything more would at best be unrealistic, but most likely just plain dangerous. This is Thailand

Purchase of 1,000,000 tablets gets Cabinet okay - The Nation

Purchase of 1,000,000 tablets gets Cabinet okay

Sirivish Toomgum,
Chuleeporn Aramnet
The Nation April 11, 2012 1:00 am


ICT minister promises devices will be delivered to schools in June, though contract has yet to be signed

Even though a contract with the Chinese firm has yet to be signed, the Cabinet last night approved the purchase of 1 million tablet computers for elementary students instead of the initial 900,000, Information and Communications Technology Minister Anudith Nakornthap confirmed last night.

However, the purchase contract with Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development could not be signed immediately over fears of legal problems, especially since the signing had been cancelled several times previously.

The number of units to be purchased has been increased from 900,000 to 1 million, raising the budget to about Bt2.4 billion from the initial Bt1.9 billion. Besides, the ICT permanent secretary will be signing the contract instead of Anudith.

The contract was to be signed last Thursday, but the government and the Chinese firm rescheduled the finalisation of the contract to yesterday. The manufacturer failed to produce a standby guarantee from the Bank of China on the day before.

However, Jirawan Boonperm, ICT permanent secretary, said she had no idea when the procurement deal would be sealed, as documents from the ministry and the Chinese supplier still need to be readied.

Last night, Anudith admitted that the first lot should be delivered by June, though schools open for the next semester in mid-May - a deadline the government had once promised to beat.

The purchase includes units for schools run by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration as well as some institutions in Pattaya City. BMA will be giving Bt137 million to the ICT Ministry for the devices.

"The Office of the Attorney General has already returned the contract to the ICT Ministry, which has prepared all the documents. We are waiting for Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development to tell us when it is ready to sign the contract," he said.

In response to reports that the company had not obtained a bank guarantee, he said the ministry would have to look into the issue.

The One Tablet Per Child policy was a hallmark of the Pheu Thai Party's election campaign, and the government has promised to distribute the tablets to Prathom 1 schools next month.

The first batch of 2,000 tablets is due to be delivered for inspection 15 days after the contract is inked.

Anudith said the devices would be closely checked and if any flaws were discovered, the entire manufacturing process would have to be revamped from the start.

The Education Ministry has already prepared content to be uploaded into the tablets.

Education Minister Suchart Tadathamrongvej said about a million tablets, requiring a budget of Bt2.4 billion, would be bought for Prathom 1 students in both government and private schools. Ministry officials showed Prathom 1 students how they could use their tablets.

Chinnapat Bhumirat, secretary-general of the Office of Basic Education Commission, said 336 learning objects for English and Thai languages, mathematics, social studies and science would be installed in each tablet as well as PDF files.

Her office will also provide a dictionary as well as drawing and painting programs, and is considering including multiplication tables, poetry and other applications.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

The number of units to be purchased has been increased from 900,000 to 1 million, raising the budget to about Bt2.4 billion from the initial Bt1.9 billion.

11% increase in units, 27% increase in total price..
Who do they think they can fool?

Natty Tangmeesang
‏ @tonravee

Samples of tablets to be distributed to Thai first graders, displayed by ICT minister http://twitpic.com/98duul TR @phetchan

Originally Posted by lom

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

The number of units to be purchased has been increased from 900,000 to 1 million, raising the budget to about Bt2.4 billion from the initial Bt1.9 billion.

11% increase in units, 27% increase in total price..
Who do they think they can fool?

Not us Farangs, but the DH's who voted for them.

^ 5555555 Bitter and twisted PAD yellow nutter sums there

Still, it will make you feel better to realise that it's not gonna be the voters payin for em, its gonna be yous Farangs thats paying.55555

You can't argue with that

China ready to sign MOU on tablet PC acquisition with Thailand : National News Bureau of Thailand

China ready to sign MOU on tablet PC acquisition with Thailand

BANGKOK, 19 April 2012 (NNT) – Chinese investors have expressed their readiness to sign an MOU on tablet PC acquisition with Thailand while the investment value from this cooperation is expected to be worth no less than 67 billion baht.

Acting Government Spokesperson Anusorn Iamsa-ard has indicated that the government’s One Tablet PC per Child policy is seeing much progress as Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra held discussions with executives from top Chinese companies during her official visit to China, in order to build confidence and hear out their opinions on investment in Thailand. The meeting was successful given a great number of Chinese entrepreneurs have shown enthusiasm in collaborating with Thailand. It is expected that no less than 67 billion baht will be generated as a result of the signing of the MOU on tablet PC acquisition.

Mr. Anusorn added that the manufacturer of tablet PCs for Thai first graders, Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development Co. Ltd, has allowed the Thai delegation to test a ready-to-use sample of the tablet PC. Confident that the devices will be ready for the beginning of the new school year, he told students, teachers and parents to be prepared for the use of tablet PCs as part of a child’s learning process.

Thai-ASEAN News Network - Bt50 Mln Sought to Cover School Tablet PCs Distribution Cost



Bt50 Mln Sought to Cover School Tablet PCs Distribution Cost

UPDATE : 19 April 2012

A committee overseeing the school tablet PCs program is seeking additional 50 billion baht from the government's central budget to pay for the distribution of the devices.

Meanwhile, the ICT minister has met with the Chinese contractor to wrap up pending issues.

The committee overseeing the free tablet PCs scheme, chaired by Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Information and Communication Technology Ministry Worapat Tewthanom, held several meetings last week to deliberate pending issues in the procurement process, including the cost of distributing the devices to eligible schools nationwide.

Recently, the committee resolved to seek the Cabinet's approval of 50 million baht from the central budget to pay for the distribution cost.

It was also agreed that Thailand Post will handle the distribution.

ICT Minister Group Captain Anudith Nakornthap, who is part of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's delegation on a three-day official visit to China, has met with senior executives of ShenZhen Scope Scientific Development to discuss details about the purchase of one million tablet PCs for first-grade students in the upcoming school semester.

Anudith said the government is currently awaiting the Office of Attorney-General's review of a draft procurement contract which was sent last week.

He noted that normally the review takes around 45 days, but the process could be completed by next week due to the urgency of the matter.

The minister added the signing could take place as soon as the contract is reviewed and endorsed by the OAG.

Thai-ASEAN News Network - Schools May Not Get Tablet PCs Next Month

Schools May Not Get Tablet PCs Next Month

UPDATE : 19 April 2012

The information and communication technology minister would not confirm whether the free tablet PCs would be distributed to schools by the beginning of the new academic year next month, pointing out the procurement contract is being drafted and has yet to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

Information and Communication Technology Minister Group Captain Anudith Nakornthap has reported the progress of the free tablet PCs project for students, saying that the procurement contract is being drafted. Once completed, it will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

The signing will take place once the contracted supplier receives all of the documents. Anudith would not specify the project's exact time frame, saying once the contract is signed, the first batch of 400,000 tablet PCs must be delivered in 60 days and the other 500,000 will be shipped in 90 days or sooner.

The ICT minister said students may have to take about one month to adjust to the new academic year. Because of this, they are expected to actually use the tablet PCs sometime in July.

Anudith stressed that the tablet PCs are only supplemental tool to the lessons taught in class. He also denied a news report that there is disagreement between the ICT and Education ministries on what applications should be installed in the tablet PCs.

He said the project is nearly complete and the students will certainly receive their tablet PCs by the first semester of the new school year.

Meanwhile, acting Government Spokesperson Anusorn Iamsa-ard reported that during the visit to China, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra met with executives of Shen Zhen Scope Scientific Development, the contracted tablet PC supplier, and got a chance to ask questions and try out the actual tablet PCs.

Originally Posted by LooseBowels

^ 5555555 Bitter and twisted PAD yellow nutter sums there

Still, it will make you feel better to realise that it's not gonna be the voters payin for em, its gonna be yous Farangs thats paying.55555

You can't argue with that

Yeah, right! No point in arguing with a DH.

Originally Posted by TANN

"The committee overseeing the free tablet PCs scheme,............."

"Scheme" huh!

A wee bit of TANN political scheming perhaps, given its' choice of words?

Could be characterized as Project, Plan, Program, but "Scheme"according to TANN.

Tablet project is in jeopardy - The Nation

Election Campaign's Promise

Tablet project is in jeopardy

Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation April 20, 2012 1:00 am


Delay in signing of contract and Chinese firm's backtracking on commitments put deal in doubt

The Pheu Thai government's ambitious but troubled plan to hand out computer tablets to nearly a million schoolchildren is in danger of collapsing because the Chinese suppliers are reportedly putting off the signing of the contract, sources told The Nation yesterday.

Even if the contract does get signed eventually and the plan goes ahead, it is now almost certain that the government will miss its deadline by weeks, if not months, of delivering tablets to Grade 1 students. The Yingluck Shinawatra administration was planning to hand out tablets to 900,000 children when schools reopen mid next month. However, this timeframe is very unrealistic now due to a tug of war over the signing of the contract.

"If this project had been initiated by the bureaucracy, it would have been scrapped already," one source said. "But this is an election promise, so the government has no choice but to muddle through it," a source said.

The sources are blaming the Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development for the escalating uncertainties. The Chinese supplier has reportedly backtracked on a previously agreed two-year guarantee on its products, claiming that the battery could not possibly last that long. There have also been other instances of backtracking, like the firm cutting down on its post-sale service centres from 30 to just 12.

As it will take about 90 days after the contract is signed for the first batch of tablet PCs to be delivered, the government could miss its deadline by several weeks. And this is assuming the contract will be signed soon.

"Bureaucrats involved in the acquisition process are becoming doubtful," one source said.

When asked if it would be better for everyone if the project was just scrapped, he replied: "In that case, the whole government will be hurt."

The acquisition process has been plagued by problems from the very start. First the Information and Communications Technology Ministry announced that the bidding for the project had been completed, before denying it and then blaming the media for misinterpreting its first round of screening as the final outcome. The murkiness of the deal then intensified speculation about why a giant Chinese firm, an initial favourite to win the contract, had not won the bidding. Then the signing of the contract kept getting delayed. The initial explanation was that Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development was unable to get a bank guarantee in China. Yesterday was the first time that information emerged about how the Chinese firm and the Thai government were locking horns over contractual details.

"The Chinese have been seeking to make a lot of changes," the source said. "Some of these changes are acceptable, but others are simply not consistent with our requirements."

According to the source, the Chinese have been going back and forth with different annexes, making it difficult for the Thai negotiators to catch up. At one point, the Chinese firm sought an advance guarantee from the Thai side so as to facilitate their quest for a bank guarantee. Then they demanded partial payment and called for some of the production burden to be absorbed by the government.

The sources said they had no idea how these differences would be ironed out in such a short period of time. Plus, the Thai side is getting restless now because the price of computer tablets is starting to swing considerably due to growing competition and new inventions are coming out virtually on a daily basis.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was given a Scope tablet to try out during her visit to China this week. It was a scene that belied the problems mounting over the project, which critics have dubbed wasteful due to the very young age of recipients and the short-life of technology gadgets nowadays.

Information and Communications Technology Minister Anudith Nakornthap yesterday said it remained unclear as to when the purchase contract for 900,000 tablets would be signed. "The attorney-general has not yet approved the contract draft," he said. "We have to prepare all the necessary documents before the signing can take place". Anudith expected the first lot of tablets under the government's much-touted One Tablet Per Child project to reach schools in July.

He said although the contract would require the Chinese supplier to deliver all 900,000 tablets within 90 days, he believed the delivery of all tablets would be completed within 60 days after the signing of the contract.

Originally Posted by Calgary

Originally Posted by TANN

"The committee overseeing the free tablet PCs scheme,............."

"Scheme" huh!

A wee bit of TANN political scheming perhaps, given its' choice of words?

Could be characterized as Project, Plan, Program, but "Scheme"according to TANN.

I've highlighted the synonyms for you, as you appear to be unaware of the similarity in meaning. No charge.

Scheme Synonyms, Scheme Antonyms | Thesaurus.com

Main Entry: scheme  [skeem]
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: course of action
Synonyms: arrangement, blueprint, chart, codification, contrivance, design, device, diagram, disposition, draft, expedient, game plan, layout, order, ordering, outline, pattern, plan, presentation, program, project, proposal, proposition, purpose, schedule, schema, strategy, suggestion, system, tactics, theory

So who is paying the Chinese firm Schenzen scope off then to introduce these deal breakers, at this point in procedings.

Obviously someone at the top, with lots and lots of ill gained assetts eh, very afraid of educating the poor isssaan peasant kids eh?

You can't argue with that

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Originally Posted by Calgary

Originally Posted by TANN

"The committee overseeing the free tablet PCs scheme,............."

"Scheme" huh!

A wee bit of TANN political scheming perhaps, given its' choice of words?

Could be characterized as Project, Plan, Program, but "Scheme"according to TANN.

I've highlighted the synonyms for you, as you appear to be unaware of the similarity in meaning. No charge.

Scheme Synonyms, Scheme Antonyms | Thesaurus.com

Main Entry: scheme  [skeem]
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: course of action
Synonyms: arrangement, blueprint, chart, codification, contrivance, design, device, diagram, disposition, draft, expedient, game plan, layout, order, ordering, outline, pattern, plan, presentation, program, project, proposal, proposition, purpose, schedule, schema, strategy, suggestion, system, tactics, theory

Whybother

New concern over Chinese tablet
20/04/2012

New questions have emerged about the Chinese supplier chosen for the government's high-profile school tablet computer programme.

Claims that Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development may have misstated its manufacturing capacity are the latest in a series of setbacks that have led to dfalays in getting the programme started.

The promise of free tablet computers for schoolchildren was one of the main selling points the Pheu Thai Party used in its successfuil election campaign last year.

However, there have since been repeated delays in signing a contract with the little-known company that the Chinese government had recommended to Thailand.

A source familiar with the issue said yesterday that Shenzhen Scope could produce only 1,000 tablets per day, not 24,000 as the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ministry had announced earlier.

A committee overseeing the tablet programme was told that the supplier has a daily capacity to assemble only the external parts of tablets for around 24,000 units, excluding internal components, said the source.

Producing 24,000 complete units would require far more than one day unless the supplier could double or triple its manufacturing capacity. "If not, it would lead to a delay in tablet distribution to students," he said.

Pheu Thai had pledged to distribute tablets to Pathom 1 students countrywide in time for the second semester in June.

However, the signing of the contract under a memorandum of understanding between the ICT Ministry's permanent secretary and Scope has been postponed repeatedly.

The source said the contract was finished and had been sent to the Office of the Attorney-General for review.

But it cannot be signed yet because Scope recently asked to change a key term, reducing the warranty period for batteries to one year from two. Other parts would still be guaranteed for two years.

The supplier claimed that the international standard for battery warranties was only one year, said the source.

"Yes, the international standard on battery warranties is one year, but the supplier itself proposed to provide a two-year warranty including the battery during the bidding," he said.

"It has to keep its word and, importantly, the period of the warranty is one of important reasons the tablet committee chose that supplier."

In addition, Scope had promised to set up 30 service and repair centres all across Thailand for the tablets but now it wants to set up only 12.

"A negotiation is required before making any change, and it must provide advantages rather than disadvantages to the country. All steps must be taken carefully as any changes would raise questions about transparency," said the source.

If and when the contract is eventually signed, 2,000 tablets would be sent to Thailand for final tests before a manufacturing order is issued.

The company would then be obliged to send the first lot of 400,000 tablets within 28 days, followed by another 560,000 units.

For its part, the government would be obliged to pay an advance equivalent to 15% of the 1.9 billion baht total to Scope before it begins production.

bangkokpost.com

piss up in a brewery would be beyond these folks ......................

Tablet supplier may not meet quota
21/04/2012

A member of a government-appointed committee set up to buy nearly a million tablet computers has cast doubts on the ability of the Chinese supplier, Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development, to fulfil the order.

The member, who spoke anonymously, said Friday he had received information that Shenzhen Scope only has the capacity to produce about 1,000 tablets a day.

The Chinese government told the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) it could make 24,000 a day.

If this supplier is to meet this figure, it needs to double or triple its number of factories, said the source.

During last year's election campaign, the Pheu Thai Party promised voters that if elected to office, it would distribute tablet computers to all Prathom 1 (Grade 1) students nationwide, free of charge.

Distribution of the devices is set to start in the first semester of the 2012 academic year, which begins in the middle of next month.

However, the signing of the purchase contract under a memorandum of understanding agreement between the ICT permanent secretary and Shenzhen Scope was pushed back several times, the source said.

He said the contract has yet to be signed as Shenzhen Scope has reportedly backtracked on a previously agreed two-year guarantee on its products, claiming the battery could not last that long. It wanted to reduce the warranty of the battery to one year, while retaining a two-year guarantee for the other parts.

The source said the supplier also claimed the international standard for batteries was one year.

"Yes, the international standard is one year, but one of the main reasons the committee chose this supplier was because it pledged to give us a two-year warranty," he said. "It has to keep its word."

In addition, Shenzhen Scope also asked to reduce the minimum number of its service centres in Thailand from 30 to just 12, he said.

"Negotiation is required before making any change, and the change must not put the country at a disadvantage.

All steps must be taken carefully as many people may have questions about the transparency of the change," he said.

If the contract is eventually signed, the Chinese supplier has to send 2,000 tablets to Thailand for final tests before the committee will issue a manufacturing order, he said.

After that, the company will have to send the first batch of 400,000 units within 28 days, with the second batch of 560,000 devices following later, he said.

Shenzhen Scope will be required to deliver these tablets to Thailand within 90 days once the contract is signed and the government will make an advance payment of 15% of the 1.9 billion baht to Shenzhen Scope before it begins production, as demanded by the supplier.

bangkokpost.com

can anyone tell us the Thai word for shame ?