IT Labs commissioned – Eccles, Tucville students to benefit
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3t8V-C-R1I” width=”100%” height=”315″]
─ a total of 100 primary schools now boasting IT laboratories
─ more primary schools targeted for initiative next year
─ 28 primary schools within Region One, Four and Ten will soon benefit from introduction of digital classroom
─ “We want to ensure that our students are digitally literate” – Min. Henry
DPI, Guyana, Monday, October 29, 2018
The significance of Information Technology in the pursuit of education was underscored by Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry today
The Education Minister was speaking at the commissioning of two new IT laboratories at the Eccles and Tucville Primary Schools. The labs cost over $12M which includes installation of computers, printers, routers among other devices.
Minister Henry explained to the students that the initiative aims to provide access to quality education and learning materials.
“We [government] want to ensure that our students are digitally literate… We also want to ensure that our teachers and educators have access to resources that are available online and so this is important for the transmission of data and information for education,” Minister Henry said.
This, she said, is in keeping with the government’s commitment to providing access to eGovernance services within the various educational facilities to engender a more technologically-abled environment.
With the addition of five this year, there is now a total of 100 primary schools boasting IT laboratories. According to Minister Henry, more primary schools will be targeted for the same initiative next year.
She noted that the Management Information Systems Unit, within the Ministry of Education, will continue to provide technical assistance to the schools to ensure that the teachers have optimal use of the computer systems.
Yoganand Indarsingh, Head of the MIS Unit, also urged the teachers to create a plan to foster advanced learning. He noted that this initiative will help to broaden the students’ horizon whilst learning. “It will be an exciting time because now technology will make your learning more interactive and engaging… Even the kind of rich media that you will be exposed to through images that in terms will make your learning more impactful,” Indarsingh said.
It was also disclosed that 28 primary schools within Region One, Four and Ten will soon benefit from the introduction of digital classroom tools such as tablets, laptops among other learning devices, this year.
Minister Henry explained that this collaborative initiative between the ministry, the OAS and the Profuturo Foundation will allow students to receive more personalised learning, whilst using Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
“The programme also allows teachers to be able to track the students’ progress and respond to the changing learning needs of the students,” the minister said.
This is in keeping with the ministry’s objective of retooling the education system to ensure that the needs of the students are catered to at all levels.
The respective Headteachers expressed their appreciation to the ministry for the initiative which they note will indeed serve to benefit both students and teachers.
Neola Damon.
Images: Keno George.