MORE than 3,000 teachers from Regions One, Three, Four and 10 are in line to receive laptops through the eGovernance programme, the Education Ministry said on Monday.

According to the ministry, in the coming weeks, distributions will continue with some 300 laptops set to be delivered to teachers in Region One; 1000 in Region Three; 1300 in Region Four and 500 in Region 10.

Already over 5000 laptops have been distributed to teachers in Regions Two, Five, Six, Seven, Eight and Nine, in addition to those in Santa Rosa and Georgetown. Laptops were also given out to teachers at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE).

Laptops, the ministry said, are being given to teachers with a minimum of 2 to 3 years of service remaining (before retirement), trained Teachers (Assistant Master/Mistress), Senior Assistant Master/Mistress, Senior Master/Mistress, Heads of Departments, Deputy Head Masters/Mistresses, Head Masters/Mistresses, Untrained Graduates, Specialty Teachers and every teacher in Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine.

Additionally, teachers living and working in Karamat, Biaboo, Pomeroon River, and Bara Cara, Orealla, areas considered hinterland such as Kwakwani in Region 10 are also entitled.

The Information Communication Technology (ICT) Unit of the Ministry of Education, headed by Dr. Marcia Thomas, has assured that teachers will utilise the laptops from the inception noting that each system is preloaded with Circulars, Curriculum Guides, Phonics Packages and the like.

Additionally, the ministry has successfully trained 5,500 teachers in Basic Computer Literacy and 50 schools are running SuccessMaker successfully. It was noted too that some 180 Secondary School teachers competent to deliver CSEC syllabi – number of students writing subjects have tripled in 2 years, and 150 Primary schools have been trained in the use of low cost technology. “The policymakers within the Education sector, recognizing that in order for the government to achieve its objectives, emphasis had to be placed on teacher professional development in the areas of ICT in education and looked at ways to contextualise and implement the process,” the Education Ministry said.

The distribution of laptops and training, the Ministry emphasised, are in keeping with Government’s plan to equip educators the education delivery in the 21st Century.

The first batch of laptops was handed out last October by President David Granger in celebration of World Teachers’ Day.

Laptops have been delivered to teachers in the following Regions: