Caption: Dr Michael Dowlath. Photo: T&T Parliament
MINISTER of Education Dr Michael Dowlath says that the distribution of laptops for students entering form one will begin on Thursday.
The minister was responding to a question from the Opposition Senator Nyan Gadsby-Dolly in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
She asked:
In light of the Government’s failure to provide laptops by the start of the school term in September 2025, could the Minister state:
- a) the expected date of delivery of the 18,000 laptops;
- b) the name of the company which was awarded the contract for the supply of 18,000 laptops;
- c) the total cost of supplying the 18,000 laptops; and
- d) the process used to select suppliers for the procurement of laptops?
Dowlath said that delivery of laptops by the supplier will be conducted in three phases. The first delivery of 2,500 laptops was received yesterday via the Trinidad and Tobago Postal Corporation (TTPost).
He said students will also be provided with laptop bags equipped with charging ports. This was confirmed by the Minister of Public Utilities, Barry Padarath, who was at TTPost’s head office for the receipt of the first delivery.
The second delivery of 8,500 laptops will be done on December 3 and the final 7,000 on December 23.
Dowlath said, “In August 2025, cabinet agreed that the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) will be the designated state enterprise to supply the 18, 000 laptops and accessories for students entering form one in the 2025/2026 academic year.”
Dowlath said the estimated cost of the laptops and accessories was $135 million.
“TSTT was engaged in a Memorandum of Understanding dated September 17, 2025 and will utilize the Public Procurement and Disposal of Property Act to procure suppliers of laptops,” said Dowlath.
Gadsby-Dolly asked if another contractor was used to procure the laptops through TSTT.
Dowlath said that it would be provided in writing.
Gadsby-Dolly also asked if the process of sole-select or competitive tendering was used to select the suppliers.
Dowlath said that the tendering process was conducted by TSTT.
A release by the Ministry of Education on Wednesday stated that the roll-out of its laptop distribution programme 2025, Learning Without Limit – A Laptop For Every Child, will take place on Thursday at 11am at Penal Secondary School, Oliverie Drive, Penal.
