Students of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC) Divisions of Arts, Sciences and General Studies, and Teacher Education were among the first to receive their Samsung tablets on Thursday, 29th October 2020.
Minister of Education Hon. St. Clair Prince symbolically handed over the first two tablets to Nyla Samuel of the Division of Arts, Sciences and General Studies and Avadil Jack of the Division of Teacher Education.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Myccle Burke explained to the students that the devices will connect them to the world outside; that the smart devices are only as smart as the purposes they will be utilised for and urged the students to use them wisely.
Minister of Finance Hon. Camillo Gonsalves described the tablet distribution as a wonderful day in the history of education in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, especially, in light of the pandemic. Minister Gonsalves told the students that the surest way out of poverty is through education. He said the aim of the tablet distribution is to bridge the gap between those students who have access to technology versus those who do not, adding that the pandemic revealed the digital divide among students.
Following a delay in the arrival of the tablets which the Minister of Finance acknowledged, Fourteen thousand (14 000) arrived on Wednesday, October 28th, via Amerijet to be supplemented by 3 000 already on the ground. According to Minister Gonsalves, Grade 6 students, and teachers will receive tablets as well. He said it is the Government’s ultimate aim to distribute a tablet to every student and teacher.
Minister Gonsalves expressed gratitude to Digicel for assisting the Government in procuring and shipping the Samsung tablets from China over a short period of time. Later on, a different brand – a sturdier type – will arrive for lower primary school students, Minister Gonsalves said. The Minister of Finance urged the students to use the tablets as tools for their education, to respect the devices, and taxpayers’ money.
Minister of Education, Hon. St. Clair Prince, told the SVGCC students that the tablets are just one aspect of the Education Revolution. Minister Prince thanked Minister of Finance Hon. Camillo Gonsalves for his “push” and support in getting the tablets to the students. He referred to a recent project where over 200 homeowners received electricity, and that both initiatives are twinned to benefit students.
“I’m excited to have the tablets to distribute to you today,” Minister Prince told the student body. The project costs “just over $12 million Eastern Caribbean” – 2257 tablets will be distributed to all branches of the SVGCC, of which, 1206 were allocated to SVGCC Villa Campus.
The Minister of Education highlighted challenges during the hosting of online classes in the earlier months of the COVID-19 pandemic; and urged incoming Division of Teacher Education students to “take it upon themselves to ensure when they go into the classrooms… they’ll begin to ensure that there is no phobia of the technology in schools”.
Tomorrow, the Divisions of Technical and Vocational and Nursing Education will receive their tablets.
On Monday, November 2nd, 2020, students who did well in their CSEC and CAPE examinations will receive monetary awards, according to Minister Prince. One thousand and forty-seven (1047) students qualified to receive $500, the Minister stated, and offered his congratulations to the recipients. “At a date to be announced, we’ll also be paying out a total of US $120 000 to about 550 students who have been recommended by their schools for the annual Taiwan scholarships and I’m sure there are some of you here who’ll be receiving those scholarships also,” Minister Prince said. Also, over 50 national scholarships will be distributed to successful students who have done well at the CAPE and associate degree, among other examinations offered at the SVGCC, the Minister of Education stated.
The Minister of Education also announced that the Ministry will soon commence construction on several schools – “We will be breaking ground soon to house the Sandy Bay Secondary School…. A new building to house the Mary Hutchinson School in Union Island… we are doing work because we are concerned about you and your future, and the development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” the Minister of Education disclosed.
Nyla Samuel, student of the SVGCC Division of Arts, Sciences and General Studies, delivered the vote of thanks. Samuel said the tablets were greatly appreciated and that they, in turn, will show their gratitude by doing well. The rest of the student body collected their tablets after the ceremony.
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