-under OLPF school-based pilot project
AS Government’s revolutionary One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme moves to the second phase, 23 Essequibo families, who yesterday took their laptops home, will begin exploring the endless possibilities that Information Communication Technology (ICT) has to offer. The Lenovo brand devices were earmarked for 23 Grade 2 students of the Abram Zuil Secondary School who were part of the school-based pilot project, a component of the overall OLPF programme, which kicked off in January.
Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir, who has a Cabinet mandate to ensure successful implementation of the OLPF project, said , “The vision of President Bharrat Jagdeo and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration to build a society where knowledge has a premium… this computer that we have as a tool, can bring wonders in terms of the development of the family, the community, and our nation.”
He explained that the laptops are tools that will enable the Guyanese population to become more knowledgeable of the world around them. 
Each of the recipients was specially chosen, as they were part of the Information Technology class that recently wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. They are now equipped to assist other families to learn the basic workings of the computer.
Minister Nadir urged each of them to identify three disadvantaged families (single-parents etc) and introduce them to the computer.  
OLPF Project Coordinator, Sesh Sookdeo, in his remarks, said that the main objective of the programme is to link children, families and communities to the world at large, through technology.
He recalled that during a previous visit to the school, he was impressed by some of the entrepreneurial thoughts and comments proffered by students with regard to using ICT as a developmental tool.
Regional Chairman Ali Baksh said that OLPF is yet another remarkable programme that government has initiated to enhance the lives of Guyanese.
He urged the recipients to use the devices to ensure the advancement of their lives and those of persons in the various communities.
The visiting team also made a spot check at the Cottonfield ICT Centre, which is seen as a potential training hub for the project.
The minister said that as the programme moves forward, the OLPF Secretariat will need about 500 persons to train people on the use of the computer   
Students at the centre are currently undergoing ICT training which is being coordinated by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s Youth Empowerment Skills Training (YEST) programme, in collaboration with the regional administration.  (GINA)