Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ronald Jones (right), accepts just one of the 144 Morphun Junior Model Construction kits to benefit children in the nursery and primary schools, from Martin Robinson, Head of Political, Press and Public Affairs at the British High Commission in Barbados.
Education Ministry to receive ‘Major gift’
Thu, 08/04/2016 - 12:00am
Later this year, the Ministry of Education expects to receive a major technological gift which will benefit all schools in Barbados.
Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ronald Jones, revealed this after receiving a donation of 144 Morphun Junior Model Construction kits from the British High Commission on behalf of a British visitor. The construction kits will benefit students at the nursery and primary level.
Following this presentation, Minister Jones noted that while he did not want to say immediately who the donation will be coming from, a shipment is to be made of just over 10 000 tablets and 10 000 laptops and desktop computers, to aid the Ministry in its efforts at replenishing the outdated stock of technological equipment in schools.
“Hopefully, this year, for our 50th anniversary, we should receive a major gift – I hope in a few months – which would help us,” Jones revealed.
“With this major gift, this would mean all schools [will benefit]. Don’t hold my hands to the fire on this, but I believe we should be having just over 10 000 tablets to be deployed particularly amongst the fourth, fifth and sixth form schools.
“We should then be having, between laptops and desktops, another 10,000 to be deployed amongst all schools and that is also working along with what we do as a Ministry, to replenish (stock) and stuff like that,” Jones further stated.
The Education Minister noted that over the last two years, his Ministry has spent almost $1 million upgrading the technology in schools and replenishing outdated equipment.
“We are almost committed to $2 million this year for further replenishment so the contracts are out now,” Jones remarked.
“So several of the schools will be replenished, Internet capacity will be upgraded and we will be working in conjunction with the Internet providers. As I said, a little later this yearwe should have landing in Barbados, hopefully, some 20,000 pieces of hardware for deployment across our schools,” the Minister reiterated. (RSM)