The Ministry of Education (MoE) yesterday said that Digital Technology has fulfilled its contractual obligations by delivering 1400 desktop computers to be distributed to secondary schools countrywide.
Controversy swirled around the computer company earlier this year after it acquired several multi-million dollar government contracts despite concerns about its track record. In July, Digital Technology won a $223 million contract to supply the computers for the ministry. Subsequently, the company was awarded a further $70 million to provide more computers, plus servers and overhead projectors.
Following the media scrutiny Education Minister Shaik Baksh stood by the award of the contracts and said that they were awarded through a competitive bidding process overseen by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).
The MoE, in a release last evening, said Digital Technology had fulfilled its obligations on September 29. The company has also delivered on its obligation to provide office equipment such as computers, servers and overhead projectors to the technical and vocational education centres at Leonora and Mahaicony. According to the ministry, it has commenced the distribution of the 1400 computers, with 55 of 64 schools already receiving the instruments. The remaining schools will receive their allotment shortly, this newspaper was told.
“Specialists from the ministry have examined the systems and gave their unanimous approval that the products have (conformed) to contractual specifications, and are of high quality,” the release said. “Digital Technology’s fulfillment of its contractual obligations has proven that the negative comments in certain sections of the media have been unjustified,” the Ministry added.
Meanwhile, NP Computec, which was awarded a separate contract for the installation of networking systems at schools to facilitate internet access has also completed its work.
“Education Minister Shaik Baksh lauded both companies for delivering on their obligations and pointed out that the ministry is well on track to satisfy the benchmarks outlined in the information technology component of its 2008-2013 strategic plan,” the release said.
Under this plan the MoE hopes to equip all secondary schools and 50 percent of primary schools with computer laboratories by 2013. So far 80 secondary schools and 60 primary schools have been targeted.
“The remaining secondary schools are expected to be outfitted with computer laboratories by the first half of next year. Every secondary school will be equipped with 30 computers,” the release said.
