Digitisation of primary education

6,000 students to get tablet devices next year

The government is going to distribute digital devices, such as tablet computers, instead of paper textbooks, among primary students at the beginning of next year as part of digitisation of primary education. Sources in the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) said they would purchase tablet computers from Telephone Shilpa Sangstha (TSS) by this year to be distributed among students next year. The cost has been estimated at Tk. 9.62 crore for 6,000 such digital devices, they added.

But the DPE has to be careful while purchasing the devices. The TSS launched a laptop project in 2010  to realise the Digital Bangladesh Vision of the Awami League (AL) government. In 2011, the TSS authorities started selling the DOEL laptop for Tk.10,000. But the sales were limited because the laptops were of poor quality.

However, the sources said they would take the best quality devices from the TSS as it is related to education.

Primary and mass education ministry and DPE sources said they would distribute tablet computers among 6,000 students of 20 government primary schools in the districts of Dhaka and Gazipur in the first phase. The digital device will contain textbooks, videos on different classes taken by the best of

teachers, teaching-learning contents, educational cartoons, educational apps for easy learning, they added.  

Students having the devices would not require any paper textbooks.

DPE sources said the government has made elaborate preparations to reorganise the education system in line with Digital Bangladesh.

As part of the initiative, it wants to provide digital devices instead of paper textbooks for reading, the sources added.

On January 4, the primary and mass education ministry gave a directive to the DPE to implement it at the beginning of next year. The DPE has planned to distribute tablet PCs among 6,000 students of 20 government primary schools in Dhaka and Gazipur districts as a pilot project in the first phase.

Ministry and DPE sources said the TSS would manufacture the tablet PCs for students. The TSS and DPE will sign an agreement in this connection, which is likely to be in March.  

The additional secretary of primary and mass education ministry, Gias Uddin Ahmed, told The Independent that the government has decided to distribute digital devices among primary students with the aim of building a digital Bangladesh. “In the first phase, the devices would be distributed among 6,000 students of 20 schools in Dhaka and Gazipur. Gradually, such devices would be distributed among all primary students,” he said.

He said the Tablet PCs would be bought from the TSS and a contract would be signed next month.

DPE sources said the TSS has sought specification and quotation from them for manufacturing the devices. These would be provided very soon, they added.

The sources said there are over 2.19 crore students from Class I to Class V in primary schools across the country.

“We want to start smart classrooms. The tablet PC would help students understand the reading materials easily though the digital devices,” the additional director general of the DPE, Ramjan Ali, told The Independent on Wednesday.

“If the project works well in 20 government primary schools in Dhaka and Gazipur, we will spread it throughout the country,” he added.

Asked about the quality of the tablet PC, Ali said: “We will take the best ones from the TSS as it concerns students. We hope an agreement will be signed with the TSS next month, and the devices would be distributed at the beginning of next year when free textbooks are to be distributed.”

Digitisation of primary education

6,000 students to get tablet devices next year

The government is going to distribute digital devices, such as tablet computers, instead of paper textbooks, among primary students at the beginning of next year as part of digitisation of primary education. Sources in the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) said they would purchase tablet computers from Telephone Shilpa Sangstha (TSS) by this year to be distributed among students next year. The cost has been estimated at Tk. 9.62 crore for 6,000 such digital devices, they added. But the DPE has to be careful while purchasing the devices. The TSS launched a laptop project in 2010 to realise the Digital Bangladesh Vision of the Awami League (AL) government. In 2011, the TSS authorities started selling the DOEL laptop for Tk.10,000. But the sales were limited because the laptops were of poor quality. However, the sources said they would take the best quality devices from the TSS as it is related to education. Primary and mass education ministry and DPE sources said they would distribute tablet computers among 6,000 students of 20 government primary schools in the districts of Dhaka and Gazipur in the first phase. The digital device will contain textbooks, videos on different classes taken by the best of teachers, teaching-learning contents, educational cartoons, educational apps for easy learning, they added. Students having the devices would not require any paper textbooks. DPE sources said the government has made elaborate preparations to reorganise the education system in line with Digital Bangladesh. As part of the initiative, it wants to provide digital devices instead of paper textbooks for reading, the sources added. On January 4, the primary and mass education ministry gave a directive to the DPE to implement it at the beginning of next year. The DPE has planned to distribute tablet PCs among 6,000 students of 20 government primary schools in Dhaka and Gazipur districts as a pilot project in the first phase. Ministry and DPE sources said the TSS would manufacture the tablet PCs for students. The TSS and DPE will sign an agreement in this connection, which is likely to be in March. The additional secretary of primary and mass education ministry, Gias Uddin Ahmed, told The Independent that the government has decided to distribute digital devices among primary students with the aim of building a digital Bangladesh. In the first phase, the devices would be distributed among 6,000 students of 20 schools in Dhaka and Gazipur. Gradually, such devices would be distributed among all primary students, he said. He said the Tablet PCs would be bought from the TSS and a contract would be signed next month. DPE sources said the TSS has sought specification and quotation from them for manufacturing the devices. These would be provided very soon, they added. The sources said there are over 2.19 crore students from Class I to Class V in primary schools across the country. We want to start smart classrooms. The tablet PC would help students understand the reading materials easily though the digital devices, the additional director general of the DPE, Ramjan Ali, told The Independent on Wednesday. If the project works well in 20 government primary schools in Dhaka and Gazipur, we will spread it throughout the country, he added. Asked about the quality of the tablet PC, Ali said: We will take the best ones from the TSS as it concerns students. We hope an agreement will be signed with the TSS next month, and the devices would be distributed at the beginning of next year when free textbooks are to be distributed.