PM defends government's approach to tablet for students programme
Published:Wednesday | November 4, 2020 | 7:00 PM
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has responded to criticisms that the Government was slow in responding to the crisis in education brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Holness, the lack of inadequate electronic learning devices was the result of the massive disruption in their manufacturing and supply because of the pandemic.
"I want us to acknowledge and to appreciate the point that Jamaica is not the only country that is facing this deficit of technological devices to enable remote learning," said Holness in his St Andrew West Central constituency on Wednesdays.
The Prime Minister was speaking at the Drews Avenue Primary and Infant School at the handing over of 45 tablets to students.
Another 48 tablets were handed over to the principal of Seaward Primary School, also in St Andrew West Central.
He said most countries in the region have a similar problem adding that in Jamaica, the lack of budgetary allocation also meant every child would not get a device at the same time.
According to Holness, it will take at least another six months before all the needed supplies arrive on the island.
Technology Minister Daryl Vaz said some 6,000 devices are yet to arrive under the e-Learning Programme.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Fayval Williams is confident that the pilot programme for face-to-face learning will be successful.
Come Monday, 17 schools in nine parishes will begin the two-week pilot.
According to Williams, the strategies for the programme are workable if the stakeholders adhere to the strict COVID containment protocols set by the Health Ministry.
"After this pilot is completed and we look at the experience we would have had during those two weeks, it will then inform our next decision for more to join the face-to-face resumption," she said.
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