Free tablets for students may remain a dream

Earlier, in the run up to 2012 assembly elections, SAD in its manifesto had announced to provide free laptops to students of Class XI and XII.

Over 2.15 lakh students of government schools have already been deprived in the last two academic sessions from having tablet computers and now also the Punjab government seems to be in no mood to provide the same, if the statement of its minister is to be considered.

Punjab Education Minister Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, who was in Jalandhar to preside over the state level function on Teachers’ Day, said the government is analysing whether tablets would be beneficial for students, as the government may give them some other good gadgets.

“We are taking reports from other states too, about the use of laptops or tablets and accordingly we will decide about giving them to the students,” Cheema told mediapersons.

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Earlier, in the run up to 2012 assembly elections, SAD in its manifesto had announced to provide free laptops to students of Class XI and XII.

Later during budget session, it was announced that not laptops but tablets would be provided and that too only for Class XII students.
State government was delaying distributing the tablets as it wants to avail the Centre’s scheme, in which it had announced tablets for schoolchildren throughout the country.

Meanwhile, 34 teachers were awarded on Teachers’ Day and there were many districts. Cheema also said that to increase enrollment in the government schools now the government officials as well as the political leaders including MLAs, ministers all will be asked to motivate the people of their respective areas to take admission in the government schools.

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