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The equipment in the two laboratories at CPCE costs approximately $22.5M and they contain a total of 60 work stations while the expenditure for the one at UG with 30 work stations is about $8.2M.
In the feature address at both ceremonies, Ms. Manickchand said the government has been keen on including in every programme the component of bettering teacher training and education.
She explained that an important aspect of the ministry’s five-year strategic plan (2008-2013) is to provide ICT learning as a supportive tool in the teacher learning process.
“We have to teach in a way that’s exciting and interesting and in keeping with what is happening in the world and the only way that we can expose our teachers, our students to the best that the world has to offer is to ensure that they have the computer training at their fingertips and their ability to use that technology,” the minister insisted.
She said, so far more than 5,000 teachers have been exposed to training in communication technology, of which that learning should be replicated in classrooms.
She added that, from now onward, every teacher who leaves CPCE is going to be exposed to computer training.
Main focus
Manickchand reported that, last year, a historic number of 849 teachers graduated from that institution and she highlighted the importance of quality, noting that the main focus is not on producing a great number of teachers, but rather to produce those who can change the landscape of Guyana.
She assured that the government can and will provide all the tools persons need to become properly trained teachers and indicated that, at the end of the day, it is the commitment of these persons that will determine the future of Guyana.
Manickchand said the ministry’s strategy also targets at least 50 percent of primary school students and 75 percent of secondary students gaining access to computer training.
In this regard, she said, they are doing well and it is expected that, by the end of 2013, all secondary schools in Guyana are going to have computer laboratories as there only six or seven remaining to get.
Manickchand informed, as well, that there are more than double the number of primary schools with computer laboratories and they will continue working to meet the set target.
On behalf of the ministry, she expressed delight at the commissioning of the laboratories at the two tertiary institutions, something that has been in the works for some time.
Another speaker at both functions, Project Coordinator, Mr. Tota Mangar acknowledged that the occurrences are within the first phase of the GITEP, which is the integration of ICT into the curriculum.
He said the commissioning of the laboratories is very significant and they are all pleased to have come to this stage of the GITEP.
According to him, the efforts to establish these laboratories began last year and included the identification of appropriate rooms, civil works to them and international competitive bidding for suppliers of the equipment.
He said GITEP has, up to now, distributed approximately 600 netbook computers, heavily subsidised, to students and staff at CPCE and a number of staffers are also proceeding to secure online Masters and even Ph.D degrees for capacity building and institutional strengthening.
The GITEP was launched in 2011 and continues through 2015, with an objective consistent with the government’s education strategic plan.
