The Yingluck Shinawatra administration's One Tablet per Child scheme has shaken up the country's information technology industry, stimulating tablet computer sales to record growth, say industry veterans.
Sales are expected to increase by 177% to 1.3 million devices this year, with the rapid growth expected to continue.
But the experts caution that for some schools with large student populations, it cannot yet be "one tablet per child" as envisioned.
They are generally pessimistic about the scheme's implementation, with many doubting the project is "alive with challenges and opportunities" as promised.
Furthermore, what skills will teachers need, especially if they now lack expertise with the devices themselves and cannot use them to engage with the students?
Attaphon Satidkanitkul, the research manager at International Data Corporation (IDC) Thailand, the local IT research firm, estimates the government can provide tablets to no more than 500,000 students.
IDC has revised up this year's overall sales forecast to 1.3 million devices sold nationwide from 800,000 estimated previously, propelled by the tablet project.
Last year saw 470,000 tablets sold in Thailand.
Mr Attaphon said the scheme has created massive awareness throughout the country of the benefits of using tablets while boosting new demand among computer users.
"Thailand is now the fastest-growing market in Asean for tablets," he said.
The One Child per Tablet programme has brought down the prices of Chinese tablet brands to less than 5,000 baht for a basic model and to between 15,000 and 19,000 baht for intermediate versions.
This compares with a price range of 16,000 to 24,000 baht just last year.
Mr Attaphon said the project has also fostered an IT environment that promotes local content and accessories.
However, he said the government very much needs to provide extensive tablet training for teachers, especially those in the more remote areas.
IDC gives the tablet project a score of 7 out of 10 on the strength of actually having the devices delivered.
But Mr Attaphon said quality control, content/application and logistics still need to be focused on.
Wiroj Asawarungsri, a committee member at the Innovation for Education Foundation, applauded the government's tablet programme as setting a world record in terms of the number of tablets distributed.
"This project is paved with good intentions of changing conventional educational methods and encouraging students to engage in self-learning," he said.
Mr Wiroj said the project will also give a fillip to the local digital content market, especially in terms of movie, visualisation and simulation development.
However, he warned that piracy problems for copyright owners lie ahead.
Mr Wiroj said the project could stimulate the country's IT market and encourage the educational momentum of tablet computers among parents and teachers.
"This has the potential change the competitive landscape in the PC market that was previously dominated by Windows and Intel, opening up the field to other new players, especially makers of Android-based tablets," he said.
Pathom Indarodom, general manager of Arip Plc, the organiser of Commart Thailand, gives the Yingluck administration a score of 6.5 to 7 out of 10 for the tablet's hardware specifications.
But he suggested the government set a clear content roadmap and budget to encourage more local content creators to participate, thus carrying the momentum over into the domestic economy.