Thailand’s ‘One Tablet per Child’ scheme contributes to 300% growth in tablet market

e27 recent reported that the Thai tablet market has witnessed a 300% growth in the tablet market from 2011, with a total shipment of 466,000. This is possible attributed by the execution of the ‘One Tablet per Child’ scheme, also known as OTPC. It was initiated and launched by Thailand’s Prime Minister, Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra this June.

By August 2012, more than 300,000 tablets were bought and distributed to grade 1 students from across the country. While the one tablet per child plan has not been fully materialised, it is a strong start to the bold move by the government. As a given, students are especially delighted in exploring and working with the new device. However, teachers in provincial schools may not have been given adequate training, and are reported to have to learn from the tablet’s manual on their own so that they can respond to the students’ demand for the use of tablets in class.

Chris Roche, Head of ICT at Harrow International School Thailand, will be speaking at the annual Digital Education Show Asia. If you are keen to hear his views on utilising technology in the Thai classroom, don’t forget to join us next May in Malaysia. For more information on the event, please visit our website. You can also register to visit the exhibition hall at the event here.