Press Release:- Minister for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development Hon. Dr. Gale Rigobert has announced that both students and hundreds of teachers will benefit from the Government’s distribution of content ready “E-books,” laptops and various E-learning devices.
On Friday November 20, which was observed as World Children’s Day, the Minister recommitted her Government’s promise to bridge the digital divide, by not just providing students with devices but offering the requisite training, as well as content and curricula that go with those devices to both students and teachers.
“I wish to recommit my efforts and that of my team, to ensure that you have what you need to ride out this Covid-19, but more importantly, to better position you to capitalize on the emerging opportunities in this knowledge society,” Dr. Rigobert said Friday, as she wished the children of this nation a happy World Children’s day.
“So in commemoration of Children’s Day I wish to advise that every child in our education system, will over the next weeks and months, be equipped with a digital device to allow for effective participation in online learning,” Dr. Rigobert went on to say.
On Monday, the Minister of Education informed that not only were students being provided with devices, but that over the past several months, teachers from across the island have been trained in ICT and the use of the various platforms.
“In addition to the training, the Department of Education has continued its distribution of devices to teachers. Over the past few weeks we have distributed seven hundred laptops to our teachers,” Dr. Rigobert explained.
Hon. Dr. Gale Rigobert would also like to thank telecommunication partners and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) for working with the Department of Education in bringing connectivity to disadvantaged households. This has come in the form of data packages and MiFi devices that will benefit more than 5,000 households across Saint Lucia initially.
