USF and e-LJAM Sign MOU to Advance Integration of Technology In Education System
By: , June 16, 2023
Photo: Dave Reid
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Universal Service Fund, Daniel Dawes (seated left) and CEO of e-Learning Jamaica Company Limited, Andrew Lee (seated right), sign a Memorandum of Understanding on June 16 at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) Auditorium, in Kingston, to provide interventions to promote the integration of technology in the education system. Observing the signing (from left) are Principal Director, Telecommunications Division, in the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Kaydian Smith Newton and Chairman of e-Learning Jamaica Company Limited and Universal Service Fund, Metry Seaga.
Photo: Dave Reid
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Universal Service Fund, Daniel Dawes (left), shakes the hand of Chairman of e-Learning Jamaica Company Limited and the Universal Service Fund, Metry Seaga, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) Auditorium in Kingston, on June 16, to provide interventions to promote the integration of technology in the education system. Also pictured (from second left) are Principal Director, Telecommunications Division in the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Kaydian Smith Newton and CEO of e-Learning Jamaica Company Limited, Andrew Lee.
Photo: Dave Reid
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Universal Service Fund, Daniel Dawes (left) and CEO of e-Learning Jamaica Company Limited, Andrew Lee, display a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding they signed at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) Auditorium in Kingston, on June 16, to provide interventions to promote the integration of technology in the education system.The Full Story
The Universal Service Fund (USF) and e-Learning Jamaica Company Limited (e-LJam), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide interventions to promote the integration of technology in the education system.
The MOU was signed during a ceremony held at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) Auditorium in Kingston, on Friday (June 16).
In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of e-LJam, Andrew Lee, pointed out that the signing represents the cementing of the relationship between e-Learning and USF, their principal funding partner.
Annually, the USF allocates $770 million to e-LJam to implement technology projects that support the teaching and learning process.
“Last year, of significance, we started with the re-equipping of the labs in our schools, and that allowed us to cover 173 schools, receiving 10,000 laptops. Now, these laptops will go towards the e-testing that the schools have embarked on,” Mr. Lee shared.
He advised that e-LJam is in the fifth year of the 11-year Tablet in Schools Programme and is looking forward to the continued support of the USF.
“Moving forward, I want to assure you that we remain unwavering in our conviction of providing technology solutions to our schools that will address current and future needs,” Mr. Lee said.
CEO of the USF, Daniel Dawes, explained that at the end of the 11-year period, the Fund would have provided “billions of dollars” to e-LJam.
“This financial year, we have earmarked $1.3 billion again, to treat with the national broadband initiative, and this is about ensuring that our secondary schools and our primary schools are outfitted with reliable, high-quality broadband services,” he noted.
Mr. Dawes highlighted that USF has begun dialogue with the Ministry of Education and Youth about integrating technology in early-childhood institutions.
For his part, Chairman of e-LJam and USF, Metry Seaga, said the signing ceremony was a testament to joined-up government.
Noting that he “could not be more happy”, Mr. Seaga charged both entities to properly implement the terms of the MOU.
“I look forward to e-Learning and USF changing the lives of Jamaican people,” the Chairman said.