Hürriyet – The main phase of Türkiye’s high tech education initiative got off to a late start yesterday with the launch of the tender to acquire over 10 million tablets to be distributed to primary education students.
Originally planned for tender on May 24, the most crucial part of the USD 7 billion Fatih Project, equipping millions of primary school students with tablets, was postponed for a month upon request from some of the interested parties in need of extra time for better preparation. As per the project, Türkiye aims to increase the overall quality of education in public schools by integrating high-tech equipment into the education system.
Eleven domestic and international companies have submitted offers for the first stage of the tender. Tech giants Apple, Samsung, HP, Toshiba and Microsoft constitute the internationals while Mobil Tel-Elektromed, Vestel, Casper-Exper-Probil and Arcelik are the locals interested in the project.The second stage of the tender will analyze the contenders’ financial capabilities and plans concerning the local contribution to the project. Plans for setting up a research and development facility in Türkiye, as well as production and investment plans in the country will be discussed with Türkiye’s Ministry of Education. The selected parties will submit their final offers, including the financial details, in the third and final stage of the tender. The winner will supply over 10 million tablets over a period of three years.
As a tender specification, Türkiye seeks local manufacturing of the tablets as to give the local industry maximum cooperation opportunities with the leading names of the ICT world.
Another tender for the procurement of tens of thousands of smart boards, printers, cameras and scanners to equip classrooms in public schools throughout Türkiye is planned for July 5.