‘Tablet PCs For Every Student’, Declares Education Committee
by Beth on Friday, September 6, 2013
by Beth on Friday, September 6, 2013
The Saga Prefectural education committee has made a controversial decision requiring all new students entering prefectural high schools next spring to buy a tablet PC.
While technological competence is increasingly important in all lines of work in Japan, 2ch netizens are highly critical of the plan to introduce the tablets, largely because of the hefty price tag of 50,000 yen [approximately $500] which has to be paid by the students themselves…
From Saga News:
Prefectural High School To Introduce Tablet PCs; 50,000 Yen Cost To Students
On September 3, the prefectural education committee revealed that the cost students would have to pay themselves for the tablet PCs to be bought by all first-year students at each prefectural high school from next year would be 50,000 yen per tablet. At the moment, the actual cost of the tablets are unconfirmed; however, they are certain to cost more than 50,00 yen in total, and the prefectural government would assist with the difference in price. They will not establish a financial supplement system that takes into consideration the economic state of each family.
The prefectural education committee, which is advancing its ITC capacity, has termed the tablets as a “standard educational resource”, and stated that it is necessary for all prefectural high school students to purchase them next spring.
According to the Prefectural Education ICT Strategy Office, while the basic software to be used on the machines has been decided as Windows 8, the hardware manufacturer, the digital education resources to be introduced to the tablet, and the final price will be decided by tendering bids from companies. Still, since “the tablets will not cost any less than 50,000 yen” (ICT Strategy Office), the cost borne by each student is established as 50,000 yen.
In a prefectural government meeting to be held on September 10, the prefectural government has allocated around 2 hundred million yen in financial assistance for the tablets. They are “still investigating” whether the tablets can be paid for in installments.
The ICT strategy office stated that “In the same way as a textbook, we would like all students to purchase a tablet. I’m sure that there are various circumstances in each family, but we hope that the tablets can be incorporated into the already-existing system of scholarships and so on. Since the price of the tablets will vary, we will go on to reconsider the way we give financial assistance for the tablets whenever possible”.
Regarding the cost to students to purchasing the tablets, in August the Prefectural High School Teacher’s Union demanded that the tablets be made free for families with financial difficulties and for those on part time courses.
