Tablets for Students by the End of September

Minister Information Technology and Communication, Tassarajen Chedumbrum Pillay said this at Sunday to Le Matinal.

The minister said that the distribution of the hardware was delayed because of the need that all procedures are followed to launch a tender exercise in proper form. "Now that things are ready, have to launch the tender exercise next week," said the minister.

The task of launching this year tender was entrusted to the Central Procurement Board (CPB). This exercise is expected to last about a month.

For the implementation of this project will require all high schools in the country are equipped with facilities for wireless connection according to Wi-Fi standard.

The Ministry of Education emphasized that these tablets are excellent educational tools to foster a more interactive learning and arouse the curiosity for learning new knowledge.

Rs 150 million to complete the project

About 170 schools in the government and private secondary system will be equipped with a wireless connection that will allow students to take better advantage of the potential of tablets that will be available soon. This development comes after the Ministry of Education has completed a 'Market Sounding Exercise' to potential suppliers. Thirty of them responded positively to the call. If everything is going as planned, more than 23,000 tablets will be distributed during the third quarter of this year in schools of government, the private sector, those headed by the Private Secondary Schools Authority and schools for the deaf.

The project cost is estimated at Rs 150 million. Tablets will be distributed in Braille for the visually impaired. Those who suffer physical disabilities will also receive these electronic slates. Students in Form IV found in the prévocationnelle industry will also benefit from these tablets. These devices contain electronic textbooks in electronic format. They thus decrease the weight of school bags on the backs of students. There is not that students are entitled to touch pads. Some 3,000 teachers will also receive these electronic slates. These tablets will be used exclusively for education. Access to social sites is prohibited.

The Ministry of Education, we are pleased with the progress of this project. It insists that the project has a much broader scope. These tablet computers will be used in the future for interactive exchanges in the classroom between the teacher and the student by the bais of an electronic board installed in each class. It also insists that the parents of these students will be required to purchase insurance to protect the computer equipment against theft. The task of overseeing IT given devoted to instructional units was given at the Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE).