Device drive under way

MINISTER of Education Santia Bradshaw recently revealed that a concerted effort is on the way to provide those students who are in need with the necessary tools to keep up with their studies during the third term.

According to Bradshaw, “We decided in the Ministry because of the demand for devices from among some of our students that we would have a G-Suite education tech-drive for devices and I must tell you that so far a number of persons in the private sector have come forward graciously and have been able to reach out to us ensuring that the persons who are most vulnerable actually get devices as quickly as possible.”

The Education Minister sought to reassure concerned parents that the Ministry is doing all that it can to get these devices into households.

“We are also working with Digicel as well, they have come on as one of our major partners to be able to ensure that there is zero-rated learning in terms of the number of sites we would be using on the G-suite platform. So parents can rest assured and so can the teachers as well and the general public that we are really doing all that we can in collaboration with our stakeholders to ensure that students can have access to devices.

“We are grateful to Capital Media, people like Shelly Williams, a number companies have come in and have just been supportive. Shelly Williams as well has also been doing a drive for used computers, tablets and devices that might have been working but persons had lying around the home and I am really greatly for that.”

She said this drive would also be useful recognising that there are a number of environmental issues that affect schools at times. “Sometimes students are at home for an extended period, so for us we are seeing this as not just a drive where persons are able to get access to devices for COVID-19, but also to allow learning in the event that there is any interruption of education during the school day.

“So for parents who are concerned about whether they will have connectivity for their kids, whether there is electricity, it has been disconnected, or needs to be connected we would like you to contact the Ministry at 535 0798 or you can email at in@mes.gov.bb.

Minister Bradshaw revealed that Joy-Ann Haigh of Haigh Communications is working with the Ministry of Education and a number of private sector entities. “Feel free to reach out to Miss Haigh at 8364629 and just let us know what the concerns are because the Ministry is trying its best to be as responsive that are being put out there by the public, the Unions as our stakeholders and certainly to make sure this is as seamless a transition for our teachers, parents and our students,” the Minister said. (JH)