OPPOSITION spokesman on science, ICT and digital society development, Dr Andrew Wheatley, has welcomed the announcement by Minister Phillip Paulwell to undertake an audit of the tablets in schools project.

Dr Wheatley said that while the Government “dropped the ball” by not carrying out a feasibility study before commencing the pilot phase of the programme, the proposed audit should put policy makers in a position to determine next steps.

“The tablet in schools initiative is a far-reaching one as it not only concerns the tax-paying public but is relevant to a number of direct stakeholders, which includes students, parents, educators, policy makers and the providers of digital technology. With so much vested in and riding on the success of this programme, it is important that we get it right and do so by having the auditor general carry out the audit,” Wheatley said in a release.

“The Opposition made strident calls for this audit as it is critical to gleaning information that will direct policy and guide key decisions so that tax-payers can derive maximum value for money,” said Wheatley.

In the meantime, Dr Wheatley and Opposition Spokesperson on Education Kamina Johnson Smith said there should be no implementation of phase two of the tablets in schools initiative until a full audit is completed by the Auditor General’s Department and made public along with a clear assessment of feasibility.

Wheatley said it is extremely important to have a time-line for completion of the audit established as well as answers to issues that have gone unaddressed to date such including, the adequacy of training, the selection of content, and the establishment of targets up front.

“I am urging the Government to heed the call to approach the imminent audit in this manner because an initiative of this nature should not be further rolled-out without the benefit of data-driven analysis of the experience and encounters associated with the pilot phase. Afterall, that is what the pilot was meant to do in the first place — provide insight and information as to next steps.

“… And since this pilot was implemented in the absence of a feasibility study, the minister should take the opportunity to do one now and assure the public that the due diligence has been done before spending more public funds,” Wheatley said.