IN light of the recent move by the Government to equip teachers with laptops to assist in the electronic delivery of the school curriculum, teachers from various regions in Guyana are upbeat about this development. The last batch of 10,000 laptops from the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) project is expected to arrive soon, and Government intends to channel these laptops towards teachers for the proper delivery of curriculum to students.
An enthusiastic ROSENNA REID, who is a teacher at the West Watooka Nursery in the mining town of Linden, said she was thrilled when she heard of the Government’s intention to give laptops to teachers. Reid said this initiative will, without a doubt, aid in making her work easier since she as well as other teachers will be able to computerize their daily routines and foster better pupil interaction.
Being a teacher for thirty years, and now a Headmistress at La Retraite Primary School on the West Bank of Demerara, ROSANNE ALLEYNE said that this initiative was a “long-overdue” one and teachers will finally breathe a sigh of relief.
ENSURING INTERNET ACCESS
Given that teachers at La Retraite Primary have not had access to computers for years, Alleyne said this initiative will enable them to carry out their respective tasks without any major hurdles. In addition, the Headmistress said she is hoping the Government will ensure the availability of internet access so that teachers can carry out research and be up-to-date with information.
In Georgetown, AMIT MOHABIR, a teacher at Cummings Lodge Secondary, said this move by the Government will be beneficial for every teacher since it will reduce the cost to print materials for students by storing information on his/her system and doing Powerpoint presentations.
The distribution of these laptops, Mohabir said, will enable teachers to become more technologically knowledgeable so that they will be able to present information in an effective manner that assists in learning.
Mohabir also noted that most teachers do not own a personal computer, and so the distribution will provide the opportunity for self-improvement of teachers, given that they will be able to research information and build on their knowledge in their respective fields. Moreover, they will be able to impart clearer and more concise, yet comprehensive, information on the topic areas to their students.
In the Potaro-Siparuni Region of Guyana, at Paramakatoi Secondary School, there is the young and capable Information Technology teacher, ZINA BELL. A beaming Bell said she is grateful for this move by the Government, since she will be able to conduct practical lessons on Information Technology.
Speaking on behalf of the entire school, (Paramakatoi Nursery, Primary and Secondary) Bell said the teachers will be liberated from depending solely on textbooks, as this initiative will help in gathering information on the various subject areas. Bell, like Alleyne at La Retraite Primary, is also hoping that the Government will ensure the availability of Internet access, once the distribution is done.
Meanwhile, this newspaper has received reports that computer systems at Paramakatoi Secondary are not working, and there is a lack of textbooks to deliver content to the students.
Paramakatoi is the biggest village in the Potaro-Siparuni Region, but yet less focus had been placed on enhancing its only school. The community also has no electricity and Internet access.
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT
This laptop for teachers initiative by the Government originated after it was recognised that the education system has been dwindling. The reason for its downfall, according to Education Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, stems from the existence of ‘outmoded’ methods in schools.
This setback, said the Minister, can only be corrected once the system is equipped with new technologies for Guyana to see an actual revolution in the delivery of education in the school system.
Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman has said that Government took this factor into consideration and decided to push for technological advancement in schools, beginning with providing laptops to teachers.
In the meantime, President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Mark Lyte says that aside from salary increases, equipping teachers with better instruments to deliver the content in schools would complete an enhancement package for any teacher.

By Shivanie Sugrim

(Additional reporting by Sherah Alleyne)