Tablet Computers Handed Out At Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College

Tablet computers were presented to 300 members of the faculty and student teachers at Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College in Granville, St. James, on October 15, under the Tablets in Schools project.

This project is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining and E-Learning Jamaica, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Universal Service Fund (USF).

The tablets were handed out by the Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell and Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, at the college.

Addressing the ceremony, Rev. Thwaites congratulated Minister Paulwell for having the “visionary idea and bringing that vision into reality, and making the Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College the first institution of its kind to be endowed with such useful implements of learning.”

“It is so important that those who are training to become teachers, to master the technology, which is critical to your own competitiveness and to the outcomes of the children, the people with whom you will interact,” he said.

The Minister pointed out that with the help of  telecommunications provider, DIGICEL, very soon all of the new curriculum will be placed on the tablets for easier access by students.

Meanwhile, Mr. Paulwell told the students and faculty staff that with the presentation of the tablets to teachers in training, this will make them even more relevant in the process of enabling technology in schools.

“Everywhere the tablets have been placed, we are seeing an increase in the interest of students and of the staff.  People are now anxious to get to school … we are creating a different kind of student and therefore we need to have a different kind of teacher.  In time to come, the students are going to know a lot more than the teachers and that’s the reason why we have to change to facilitate the inquisitive minds and guide them in the right path,” the Minister noted.

The presentation is part of  a one-year pilot  to be carried out in 38 educational institutions, which will see the distribution of tablets to benefit 24,000 students and 1,200 teachers in six pre-primary, 13 primary, five all age and junior high, and 12 high schools; one teacher’s college; and one special education institution.

The initiative, being implemented by E-Learning Jamaica Limited, also involves the distribution of computers and multimedia devices, including interactive white-boards/projectors, scanners and printers to pre-primary and primary schools. This is in addition to the installation of Wi-Fi at all 38 educational institutions.

Following a review of the pilot, the programme will be rolled out across the island, to benefit 600,000 students and teachers.