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One Tablet Per Child Program Begins In Thailand

societyofrobots writes "Thailand has now put the first 50,000 of a planned 800,000 tablets into the hands of elementary students. Each tablet costs only $80/unit, runs Android ICS, and was manufactured in China. Opponents claim it to be a very expensive populist policy to 'buy votes', while proponents argue it could bypass the root causes of poor education in the country: outdated books and unskilled teachers."

2 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. A great step by MindPrison · · Score: 3, Interesting

    for humanity.

    Even if 80% of the teachers lack knowledge, with this gear, at least the kids stand a chance of growing up with technology, and can get online somehow, and get access to vast amounts of information, the young minds so heartily crave.

    Sure, a bunch of them will be sold off by poor families, and a lot will not know what to do with them, but it's a start. This is VERY forward thinking from the Thai gov. and very promising, never mind the votes, this will be great for their people. This will give the kids a taste of technology, and who knows? Maybe that's exactly what's needed to get just ONE kid off to become that great engineer in the future, if so - it's already a success.

    --
    What this world is coming to - is for you and me to decide.
  2. A computer hacker in thailand by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I live in thailand and in the last 2 years. 2 things have got done.
    #1 3G acesss.
    #2 Tablets in the hands of kids.
    That is a hell of a improvement.

    The previous military goverments parlament. Keep in mind thailand is still not a democracy.
    They met twice.
    #1 1 time was to give themselves a raise.
    #2 Start a war with cambodia.

    For the record these tablets where supposed to be in the hands of the kids over 2 years ago. Before current goverment was in place.

    Nuff said.