Although the departments responsible for the project – digitization and education – do not disclose amounts, it can be assumed that its value will significantly exceed PLN 1.2 billionas wnp.pl writes. This is more than the cost of the tender from 2023 to 370 thousand. laptops for fourth grade students, conducted by the government of Mateusz Morawiecki.
Equipment for students. Gawkowski accuses PiS
The initiative to buy laptops for children was entered in the national reconstruction plan by the previous government, but instead of providing equipment to schools, it was decided to distribute laptops to the fourth graders just before the election. The money came from the Polish Development Fund then, because KPO funds were not yet available. As commented on the current minister of digitization Krzysztof Gawkowski: “It was not a digitization program, but an election program.”
The then minister of digitization, Janusz Cieszyński, declared that the program would continue every year. However, after the change of power, the European Commission did not agree to financing private laptops from the KPO, and the new government did not secure funds in the budget for 2024. As a result, in February 2024, Minister Barbara Nowacka and Krzysztof Gawkowski announced the suspension of the program.
At the same time, a new project was announced – “Digital student” – which assumes the purchase of equipment for schools, not the property of students. Minister Nowacka assured:
“A digital student is a program that will not leave any child on the equipment from the state. No student and no year will be injured.” – said Nowacka
In order for the program to move, the government had to settle accounts with the EC and develop strategic documents. In September 2024, the “policy of digital transformation of education” was adopted.
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Tender problems – time is running out
Although seven months have passed since then, a tender for laptops and tablets has still not been announced, which causes delays to the KPO schedule. The equipment was to be sent to schools until September 2025, currently there is talk of implementation in the fourth quarter. Sources indicate that the reason for the delay was, among others Replacement of documents between departments. In addition, according to the Ministry of National Education, consultations with the European Commission regarding the purchase of computers are still underway.
The Government Administration Service Center (COAR) will be responsible for conducting the tender, and the documentation necessary for its announcement has already been submitted.
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New laboratories in schools
However, this is not the end of planned purchases. As part of the KPO, there is also a creation in 16 thousand. AI and STEM laboratories schools – for learning science, technology, engineering and mathematics. They are to include, among others Laptops, educational robots and 75-inch interactive monitors. The equipment was to be sent to schools by the end of 2025, but currently its delivery is planned only for the second quarter of 2026. However, here the EC was to give green light.
A technical dialogue with potential contractors is currently underway to refine the order details. According to information from the ministries, the deadlines are dependent on the course of tender procedures.
In the background there is still an investigation into the previous tender for children's laptops, initiated on the basis of a notification made by Krzysztof Gawkowski. The prosecutor's office discontinued them in February 2025.
The Ministry of Education also announced that it will conduct an analysis of how students use laptops distributed by the previous government.
