Mathematics

In a rural classroom in the Thai highlands, hill tribe children energetically slide their fingertips over tablet computer screens practising everything from English to mathematics and music.The disadvantaged students are part of an ambitious scheme by the kingdom to distribute millions of the handheld devices in its schools in a move supporters hope will boost national education standards.For opponents of the plan, however, it is an expensive gimmick designed to boost the popularity of the ruling party among parents -- and the next generation of voters.At Ban San Kong school in Mae Chan in the northern province of Chiang Rai, 90 children received a tablet computer last year as part of the "One Tablet Per Child" policy that was part of the government's election campaign in 2011.Previously the school had only a few desktop computers with limited Internet access.Now, with headphones over their ears for one hour a day during class, the students use the devices for activities including sing...

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