Lancaster Secondary School on the East Coast of Demerara yesterday received six desktop computers from a benevolent overseas-based Guyanese in Maryland, USA, and the Office of the President has undertaken to provide the initial internet hook up to extract the full potential for their use. Making the donation to the students and teachers of the school, on behalf of benefactor Bobby Dilnarine was Dr. Randy Persaud, Political Affairs Assistant to President Bharrat Jagdeo. Dr. Persaud announced that the President was unable to attend the event because of his being unwell. Dr. Persaud assured residents that the President will come at a later date, after they said that the school has never had a visit from any Government official in the three years it has been in existence.
Making the presentation, Dr. Persaud said that in March this year, students and teachers of the school came to the Office of the President and made a request for the computers.
“I asked Dilnarine if he would help and he promptly agreed to buy these six computers,” he said, adding that the Office of the President made an earlier donation of two computers to the school.
“It is my pleasure to present these six computers on behalf of Bobby Dilnarine. [But] for them to be fully functional they have to be connected to the internet,” he said, assuring that the Office of the President will provide them with internet service. But he later hinted to them that with a vibrant Parent Teachers Association (PTA) functioning for the school, the community should not find it too difficult to raise the required $10,000 monthly for the internet connection.
Speaking at the handing over, Headmistress of the school Dolores Benjamin said she was overwhelmed and grateful for the donation, adding that it shows the donor has the interest of children at heart. “I can assure that they will be well taken care of,” the Headmistress stressed, adding that the students will benefit from the donation of computers.
IT teacher at the school, Jason Persaud, said that the students will be exposed to teachings according to the CSEC syllabus regarding computer topics, such as networking, basic knowledge and PASCAL.
Parent of a child at the school, Ramsukh, said that the computers will encourage the children to learn more and get involved. “It [the computer] will make them more interested,” he said, expressing his thanks to everyone involved in the school’s acquisition of the computers.
The school currently houses 315 students and is expecting to see the influx of a further 194 when the new term begins. This is more than double the school’s capacity, the Headmistress pointed out. Dr. Persaud asked her to prepare an action plan for the school with needed and manageable objectives and submit to him within the shortest time.
Speaking to the pupils of the school, Dr. Persaud said that the most important thing that they have is not the school, or the computers, but the dreams that they have for their lives. He advised them that most of the learning will have to be done on their own time.