As schools gear up to start the academic year with remote
learning, some students may not have the necessary equipment to access their
online classes and assignments. Predicted delivery delays of several months
have been reported by school districts across the country, according to sources
contacted by the Associated Press.
Sales of Chromebooks and other low-cost computing devices
surged this spring when the pandemic hit and schools went from in-person
to remote learning. With supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19, delays were
already beginning.
On July 20, the Trump administration announced sanctions
against Chinese companies said to be involved in such human rights abuses as
forced labor, directed against the Uighur Muslim minority. Among the companies
penalized is a manufacturer of components for low-cost Lenovo laptops. Lenovo
has notified customers that the sanctions are contributing to delays in
delivery.
Many school districts supply devices to students.
Administrators say the shortage, which may persist into early 2021 in some
cases, will interfere with education for these students. Also lacking are
hotspots for Internet connections, vital for families who can't afford routers
or who live in areas where broadband is not available.
See the HVP report on the status of broadband in the Hudson Valley.
One industry expert, Mikako Kitagawa of Gartner, Inc., noted
that the pandemic caused shutdowns of Chinese computer factories in February
and March, interrupting the supply of devices. When factories began to reopen,
they were flooded by orders from corporations and government agencies whose
employees were working from home, at the same time that school districts needed
more computers. Many districts expected to return to in-person schooling this
fall and did not order laptops until late in the summer.
A California poll revealed that among the state's 1100
school districts, there are 300,000 computers on back order. Districts in all
regions of the country are waiting for shipment of laptops. Estimated delivery
dates vary from October to December and are constantly changing.
Consumers are also affected by the shortage. On its website,
Best Buy offers 36 models of Chromebooks priced under $500. This week, 33 of
those models were marked as sold out. You could also could consider refurbished
machines.
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