A wave of complaints has surfaced from schools in Islamabad regarding the functionality of refurbished Chromebooks recently supplied under a government initiative. Several institutions reported that many of the devices were defective, with some failing to power on altogether. These Chromebooks were meant to be used for educational purposes and were distributed under a program led by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) in collaboration with the National Book Foundation.
In response to the rising concerns, the Ministry of Education has taken immediate action by ordering a full inspection of all Chromebooks delivered and those yet to be distributed. As part of the process, certificates of satisfaction will be collected from the heads of the schools receiving the devices to ensure transparency and accountability. The directive came through an official letter issued by Secretary of Education Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, addressed to the Director General of the FDE.
“This letter is aimed to ensure that all Chromebooks and chargers supplied to schools under the joint initiative of the Federal Directorate of Education and National Book Foundation are thoroughly inspected for functionality before delivery.”
A total of 12,500 refurbished Chromebooks were procured by the Ministry of Education at a per-unit cost of Rs. 11,900. According to ministry sources, the purchase was made through a competitive tendering process managed by the National Book Foundation. So far, 4,000 of these devices have been distributed to schools, while the remaining units are scheduled for delivery in the coming weeks. Budgetary limitations played a crucial role in the decision to opt for refurbished devices rather than new ones, a choice that has now drawn scrutiny due to the quality concerns raised by educators and school administrators.
“Due to budget shortage, we opted for refurbished Chromebooks to facilitate as many institutions as possible. Each device cost Rs. 11,900, and the purchase was made through a competitive bidding process.”
Despite the current issues, the FDE remains committed to the goal of enhancing digital education in the capital. Officials confirmed that an additional procurement of 10,000 Chromebooks is already in the pipeline and will be initiated through a new tender process within the coming days. The Ministry aims to ensure that future deliveries are subjected to stricter quality checks to avoid similar issues and better serve the educational needs of the students.
