THE Guyana Jamaica Friendship Association (GJFA), through the Ministry of Education, recently donated 30 electronic tablets and five laptops to the Mashabo Primary School in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
Headteacher, Moodiram Beepat, said the donation came at an opportune time when learners in the Amerindian community are facing challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Beepat said the devices were sent to the school on June 25, and, according to him, it was the first time in history that the school had received such donations.
“Giving is not just about donating, it’s about making a difference. With this in mind, I [would] like to thank the Guyana Jamaica Friendship Association (GJFA) for making a difference in the lives of our pupils and teachers at Mashabo Primary,” Beepat said.

The headteacher said that many pupils in the area will be exposed to educational gadgets for the first time. He declared that the donation will assist in delivering the curriculum more effectively amidst the global pandemic.
The headmaster said that GJFA was one of the school’s major stakeholders in providing educational resources over the years. He said that due to the organisation’s continuous encouragement and motivation, the school had secured passes for the “A” list secondary for three consecutive years.

The organisation had adopted the Mashabo Primary school and had made several donations to the school, including $100,000 in past exam papers and relevant text books, as well as stationery for all classes. Most recently, they honoured the top NGSA pupil with a Chromebook and a cash award of $100,000.
This recent donation will benefit 30 Grade Five and Six pupils and 10 teachers. The electronic tablets will be loaned to pupils and returned to the school upon their completion of primary education.
Presently, there is no internet at the school but the Office of the Prime Minister and the Village Council are working vigorously to establish an internet hub at the school. This will facilitate internet connectivity for learners of the nursery, primary and secondary.

Meanwhile, Chairman of GJFA, Dr. Frank Debow, said that members of the organisation recognised how difficult learning was during the pandemic and so they were motivated to make the timely donation.
He, therefore, urged teachers and learners in the community to make maximum use of the educational devices and to ensure that regular classes will become the norm.

The gadgets were donated to mitigate the disparity of education between the hinterland community and the coastland as well as to empower the youths during the pandemic.
“The pandemic has changed our approach and with schools in Guyana and around the world closed, we had to change our strategies. It became necessary to get devices that would allow the [pupils] and teachers to communicate… we, therefore donated the gadgets.

“We feel that with these devices, we can help bridge the digital divide between the affluent and not so affluent in the society. We know the all children can learn and the potential for these students is the same as any other students regardless of financial background” Dr. Debow said.