[kictanet] Day 4:Ensuring Effective Implementation of the Laptop Project - The Key Variables :Day 4: Maintenance & Disposal (issues of support, environmental concerns, etc)

[James Kariuki]

On disposal (at least to me), the onus should be on the supplier to
get rid of the used gadgets. The tender for the supply of such gadgets
should include disposal after say 4 years (or after a pre-determined
life of the gadgets). Alternatively, there should be a
replacement/swapping clauses on the tender documents that those
gadgets should be renewed/swapped after X years (some sort of leasing
the gadgets for a limited period). Anything shorter than this will
leave millions of useless and dangerous (environmentally) gadgets out
there. Of course, there can be (small) businesses than can specialise
in mining the rare/precious metals (e.g. mercury) from the gadgets,
how viable and environmentally sustainable this is needs to be
explored.
I think there is a business opportunity on the maintenance of the
gadgets. I would imagine the implementers of this scheme would need
the services of local individuals/companies to support the schools.
Having a sort of a helpdesk/servicedesk in one  school in a network
that can be used for technical support including maintenance for the
gadgets would be good. All support and maintenance requests would be
dealt within the network where possible (or escalated to a higher
office in cases where there is need for replacement or very
specialised repairs).

On 12 June 2013 23:14, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com> wrote:
> Lister's,
>
> Many thanks to all those who have contributed to todays discussion, the
> thread is still open, day four will focus on hardware:
>
> What  Maintenance & Disposal issues should the government take into account
> before the project is implemented? (issues of support, environmental
> concerns, etc)
>
> --
> Barrack O. Otieno
> +254721325277
> +254-20-2498789
> Skype: barrack.otieno
> http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/
>
> _