… sees it as bringing community in line with gov’t development plan

BY making Information Communication Technology (ICT) available in classrooms all across the country, the promotion of science and communication technology within the education sector is a key pillar of the government’s development agenda.

This is according to Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who officially commissioned a new computer lab on Saturday at the Lower Bonasika Primary School in Region Three (West Demerara-Essequibo Islands).

Minister Harmon said that the head of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), under the Ministry of Public Telecommunications, will be dispatching a team from the schools’ Internet connectivity programme to Bonasika within the next two weeks to get the school, with its population of 85 pupils, connected.

Harmon, in his feature address, said that the government is aware that the rapid and sustainable development of Guyana in the shortest possible time requires the active involvement of all citizens in a united cohesive and collective effort.
As such, he is urging that everyone, including those in central government, regional administration, the Region Three private sector association and residents, get on board to help promote development at Bonasika.

He commended the region’s private sector body for contributing the computers and related accessories to the development of the children of the community, as it will certainly help as well as complement the government’s ongoing programme, through the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Public Telecommunications and the NDMA to modernise the education sector.

He said that by making ICT available in classrooms all across the country, it will aid in the development of smart classrooms, virtual classrooms, computer laboratories in schools and e-libraries for distance education and e-learning.

Turning his attention to the National Endowment for Science and Technology (NEST), which was launched by President David Granger in 2017, Minister Harmon said that the programme at reference is aimed at boosting science and technology laboratories in schools across the country, and that 13 schools have so far benefitted from a Presidential Grant of $1M each for the development of their computer and science laboratories.

Quoting the President, Minister Harmon said: “Science is not a side show; it is essential to our country’s development … I have been actively promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and I encourage schools, students and teachers to pay more attention to the STEM subjects which will help young people to become innovative, and equip themselves with the skills needed to contribute to the nation’s development.”

Regional Executive Officer (REO) Denis Jaikarran said there have been tremendous improvements in Region Three, and that many projects were done in the riverine areas to enhance the lives of members of those communities.
He said that the many contributions of the private sector show that there has been tremendous growth in the region, hence their ability to fulfil their corporate social responsibilities.

The REO called on the community to care and protect the donation as it will aid in their collective development with the coming on stream soon of Internet connection.
President of Region Three Private Sector Association, Radesh Rameshwar, urged both pupils and teachers to make full use of the computer lab, as it will help tremendously in their empowerment.

He said: “We chose this area because we feel that not much attention has been paid to this far-flung area.
“We will also be looking at other far-flung areas, and we want the communities to know that they are not forgotten.”

Rameshwar told residents it was not the last they were seeing of him, as he will be returning in August with 1000 schoolbags for the children.
“I can promise that we will be returning to Bonasika to distribute some of those bags for the new school opening in September,” he told a cheering gathering.

He also announced that in August there will be a grand prize-giving ceremony for those students in Region Three who would have done well at the Grade Six, CXC and CAPE examinations.