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Mitra defends giving refurbished laptops to Tamil schools
Mitra economy and works director Suresh Ramasamy said the RM500 price for each device included the cost of upgrading, delivering, and maintaining the laptops.
“Furthermore, Google and its partners have...
Amid complaints from parents and teachers regarding the condition of the refurbished laptops given to Tamil schools, the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) has defended the deal.
Mitra economy and works director Suresh Ramasamy said the RM500 price for each device included the cost of upgrading, delivering, and maintaining the laptops.
“Furthermore, Google and its partners have invested in making sure the teachers are trained to use the devices that will help in teaching and learning,” he told FMT.
According to the report, the complaints ranged from having to send the laptops for repair just weeks after receiving them to some refusing to boot up.
Suresh also dismissed the claim that Mitra’s board of directors opted for quantity over quality by rejecting a proposal to provide new laptops in stages.
The Mitra director said the laptops were upgraded to Google’s requirements and that Google would support the installed software for the next five to eight years.
“The agreement Mitra has with the service provider not only provides a one-year warranty but also allows for the device to be immediately replaced if there are defects,” he added.
Contrary to the complaints, Suresh claimed that the Tamil schools were satisfied with the laptops.
He said the RM500 priced laptops were better than the 300,000 tablets purchased at RM1,000 each under an initiative by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
“These are inferior devices compared to laptops. Getting refurbished laptops at RM500 each, which includes delivery and maintenance, is almost impossible,” he added.
In October, Mitra chairperson R Ramanan said 6,000 laptops would be distributed to 525 Tamil schools nationwide, involving a cost of RM2.9 million.
He said the government always prioritises training and education in Tamil schools.
Ramanan added that Mitra hopes this initiative would help provide opportunities for Tamil school students to realise the government’s aspirations in information and communications technology.
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