Dear Editor,
When I read about the tablets being given to sitting parliamentarians by the minister of science, technology, energy, and mining, I was a bit confused. Perhaps the minister was dispensing some specially made pharmaceutical to parliamentarians in need of a booster dose to enhance their performance and mental capacity? Then I found out it was tablet computers.
The minister, according to reports, extracted more than $800 million to buy 20,000 tablets for parliamentarians and 30 public schools.
Now, tablets are small and portable flat personal computing devices, mostly used by people on the go. For a school, a laptop or even desktop would be more effective, I think. For instance, how will the minister protect against theft of these very portable devices in the public schools using them? And, why give out free tablets to parliamentarians who can afford to buy their own? What a waste!
E-Learning is so much more than tablets, and the minister must have been poorly advised. This is another example of a measure of fiscal irresponsibility, if you ask me. Reminds me of the very loose lightbulb project.
According to the report I read, the minister "appeared to electrify the Parliament when he announced that low-performing institutions would be blessed with the tablets, free of cost, to brighten the prospects of students in these public schools in the coming year, and to start with a pilot project following the completion of E-Learning". Whoever thought tablets could become a blessing? The text of the minister's presentation "fuelling for growth", we understand, was also placed on the free tablets for parliamentarians to take home and read. What a joke! If nothing else, electrifying must be the essence of this particular ministry.
P Chin
chin_p@yahoo.com
Tablets in Parliament?
-->
When I read about the tablets being given to sitting parliamentarians by the minister of science, technology, energy, and mining, I was a bit confused. Perhaps the minister was dispensing some specially made pharmaceutical to parliamentarians in need of a booster dose to enhance their performance and mental capacity? Then I found out it was tablet computers.
The minister, according to reports, extracted more than $800 million to buy 20,000 tablets for parliamentarians and 30 public schools.
Now, tablets are small and portable flat personal computing devices, mostly used by people on the go. For a school, a laptop or even desktop would be more effective, I think. For instance, how will the minister protect against theft of these very portable devices in the public schools using them? And, why give out free tablets to parliamentarians who can afford to buy their own? What a waste!
E-Learning is so much more than tablets, and the minister must have been poorly advised. This is another example of a measure of fiscal irresponsibility, if you ask me. Reminds me of the very loose lightbulb project.
According to the report I read, the minister "appeared to electrify the Parliament when he announced that low-performing institutions would be blessed with the tablets, free of cost, to brighten the prospects of students in these public schools in the coming year, and to start with a pilot project following the completion of E-Learning". Whoever thought tablets could become a blessing? The text of the minister's presentation "fuelling for growth", we understand, was also placed on the free tablets for parliamentarians to take home and read. What a joke! If nothing else, electrifying must be the essence of this particular ministry.
P Chin
chin_p@yahoo.com
Tablets in Parliament?
-->