Will the equipment in the new “Digital Student” program become property? – No, because one of the main reservations about the “Laptop for Students” program, both in the European Commission and in the NIK report, is clearly indicated that our predecessors knew that the National Reconstruction Plan does not allow for handing out laptops – says Barbara Nowacka, Minister of Education, in an interview with the business editorial office of tvn24.pl. – It is of course super cool that young people have laptops at home, but they are not used in the educational process – she adds.
Morawiecki's government announced in January 2023 that all fourth-grade students would receive free laptops. This is the “Laptop for Students” program, which was finally phased out in February of this year.
– The tender for the purchase of laptops under the “Laptop for Students” program has been carried out since October 2022. – Everything indicates that during the tender there was a violation of criminal regulations, corruption situations may have occurred, and in connection with this, in a secret mode – because we received such information during the audit – a report will be submitted to the prosecutor's office, which will concern the possibility of committing a crime in connection with this tender – explained Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski during a press conference in February this year.
The head of MC then announced the launch of the “Digital Student” program.
“Stuck in NASK”
As he says in an interview with the business editorial office of tvn24.pl Barbara NowackaMinister of Education, “Digital Student is a new program that will involve investing in the digital transformation of schools.” – At the moment, the government is considering a digital transformation policy prepared by the Ministry of Education – he adds.
From the “Laptop for Students” Program to the NASK Magazine 15 thousand laptops returned. We ask the minister how they will be allocated.
– In the coming weeks, the project I mentioned will appear on the government agenda. Only then will we be able to answer the question of what to do with laptops, how to manage the equipment that was stuck in NASK due to some unimaginable negligence of our predecessors. They spent the money badly, they did not prepare the transformation, they miscalculated how many schools there are, how many needs there are – Nowacka replies.
Will the equipment be transferred?
Barbara Nowacka, asked whether new equipment in the “Digital Student” program will be transferred as property, “forever”, answers that “no, because one of the main reservations about the 'Laptop for Students' program, both in the European Commission and in the NIK report, is clearly indicated that our predecessors knew that the KPO does not allow for the distribution of laptops as property.”
– They knew that you can't give away laptops as your own, but they gave them away as your own. You have to ask yourself what the educational effect is. We are investigating how many schools use laptops given to children effectively. I have to say that they actually don't. Because they often ended up at home. Of course, it's great that young people have laptops at home, but they are not used in the educational process – the minister emphasizes.
As he explains, “the lack of a digital policy meant that children were given laptops and there was no idea how to use them at school”. – Today, however, equipping the computer lab with both hardware and software is an absolute priority. So that young people can use them at school – adds Nowacka.
Main image source: PAP/Tomasz Gzell