Fuad: Give tablets to pupils

Education Minister Anthony Garcia, on Friday, ended the former administration’s issuance of a personal laptop to every pupil (costing $253 million per year) to instead issue 100 laptops to each secondary school (costing $63 million), a move that drew the instant ire of his predecessor, Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh.

However, in a statement to the media yesterday, Khan offered a fresh alternative, so as to not rob pupils of the chance to engage in new technology.

“This can be attained by substituting the laptops with tablets instead, which are more cost-effective and could be distributed in the form of a grant for parents wishing to purchase one for their children.” However he suggested these be issued by way of a means test similar to that to be used for GATE by which the Government can control the persons who can access such a tablet grant.

He said the idea of a grant helps local laptop vendors who may have been bypassed if the procurement had gone to a single vendor.

Khan said Garcia’s issuance of 100 laptops to be kept at each secondary school for shared use by pupils actually defeats the very purpose of laptops, that is mobility, that lets youngsters use them according to their personal schedules.

The issuance of tablets allows a “more cordial use” than shared laptops, Khan argued.

Otherwise, Khan gave limited support to Health Minister, Terrence Deyalsingh’s, handling of drug shortages.

“It is reassuring to know that after month of waiting, the patients of cancer care at our nation’s hospitals will finally be getting their medication from the government, despite this only being a temporary arrangement to a greater problem in the Ministry of Health,” Khan said.

“What is noteworthy however, is the failure of the Mr. Deyalsingh in providing details regarding which drugs will be delivered in the first shipment.”