Kerala’s 50,000 teachers to get discounted laptops

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - As many as 50,000 teachers in Kerala will soon be able to buy either a laptop or a netbook computer at a discounted price, according to an official.

The scheme has been initiated by IT@School, the technology arm of the state government’s general education department. Its aim is to empower schools with the latest information communication technology-enabled education, besides implementing e-governance within the education department.

Anwar Sadath, head of IT@School, Saturday said that they are acting as facilitators to help the teachers get computers at a huge discount.

“A laptop will cost Rs.17,770 and a netbook Rs.11,450. The discount comes to as much as 36-37 percent,” Sadat said.

According to him, the response has been remarkable. “We expect over 50,000 orders and it would be executed on a first-come-first-serve basis, said Sadath.

Three companies - HCL, RP Infosystems and Wipro - will be supplying the laptops while the first two are contracted to supply the netbook, he added.

Normally the laptop-netbook and its accessories come with one-year warranty. But our scheme ensures 3-year warranty, including that for the battery and power adapter, which is a unique facility provided to IT@School purchases only, said Sadath.