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Parents Optimistic About Tablets In Schools Programme

By: , October 15, 2014

The Key Point:

Noel Brown is optimistic that his son’s educational prospects will greatly improve having now received his own personal tablet computer under the Government’s $1.4 billion Tablets in Schools pilot programme.
Parents Optimistic About Tablets In Schools Programme
Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell (left), presents an elated Dujun Brown (second right) with his own personal tablet computer, during a presentation ceremony at the Rennock Lodge All Age School in Kingston, on October 14. Looking on (from second left) are: Chairman of the school Board, and Mayor of Kingston, Senator Councillor Angela Brown-Burke; and Dujun’s father, Noel Brown. Dujun is among the 130 students enrolled at the school to receive devices under the Government’s $1.4 billion Tablets in Schools pilot programme.

The Facts

  • Dujun Brown is among the 130 students enrolled at Rennock Lodge All-Age School in Kingston, who received devices on October 14, during a distribution exercise at the school.
  • Speaking with JIS News, Mr. Brown said he is hoping his son who already has “a good grasp” of the technology will use the tablet to realise his full learning potential.

The Full Story

Noel Brown is optimistic that his son’s educational prospects will greatly improve having now received his own personal tablet computer under the Government’s $1.4 billion Tablets in Schools pilot programme.

Dujun Brown is among the 130 students enrolled at Rennock Lodge All-Age School in Kingston, who received devices on October 14, during a distribution exercise at the school.

Speaking with JIS News, Mr. Brown said he is hoping his son who already has “a good grasp” of the technology will use the tablet to realise his full learning potential.

“I hope it carries him a far way educational wise. (I) will make sure he uses it for the (right) purpose,” he said.

Another parent, Carlton Smith, has three children attending the school who have also benefitted. He told JIS News that the technology will serve to further enhance the quality of his children’s education.

He said he is happy that his two daughters and son will no longer have to carry around physical books, but that all the educational material needed will be available on the tablets.

Barely able to contain her excitement that her two sons are now in possession of their own personal tablets, Suzette Jones said she expects that her children’s performance in school will get better.

She also pledged that she and her children will “take good care” of the “much needed” devices.

Expressing his gratitude for the programme on behalf of the students, Dujun said he knows the tablets will be beneficial to them and help them to achieve “a very good education and to learn the knowledge of technology.”

“We will do our best to make sure that we take very good care of them and keep them safe,” he said.

Touting  the tablets as “the latest in technology,” Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, said that Rennock Lodge All Age School, as the latest recipient of the devices, now “becomes first world.”

He reminded parents that to be successful, the project is going to require their full support, particularly in keeping a tab on the tablets.

“This will give you a better opportunity to follow the progress of your children,” he said, adding that while the tablets will be in their children’s hands, parents will have “a vested interest in them.”

The Minister further informed that community members will also be able to benefit from the free broadband internet access that is available at the school, using their own devices.

Chairman of the school Board, and Mayor of Kingston, Senator Councillor Angela Brown-Burke, said the introduction of the tablets will enhance the “teaching and learning process at Rennock Lodge All Age School.”

The Mayor said she is particularly pleased that the school’s infant department is benefiting, noting that access to this latest technology will now put them “on even keel” with any school in Jamaica.

“We are looking forward to start with that young group to see how much it enhances their learning,” she said.

Principal of the school, Jacqueline Lewis, also welcomed the initiative, and personally thanked Minister Paulwell for his efforts in getting the project off the ground.

The one-year pilot will be carried out in 38 educational institutions and 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.

Last Updated: October 15, 2014

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