Jamaica govt will distribute tablets to students

Kingston, Jamaica: At the Universal Service Fund's PEP grant and PATH scholarship presentation ceremony, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.

In the ceremony, Minister of Science, Energy and Technology Daryl Vaz stated that the Government of Jamaica had spent $1.5 billion so far to present tablets to students and teachers under the Tablets in Schools and Tablet for Teachers programmes.

Vaz also added that Twenty five thousand teachers had got tablets, and over 34,000 tablets have been allocated to over 700 schools islandwide. Additionally, through the USF, $700 million has been assigned annually for the purchase of devices under the tablets in schools programme executed by e-Learning Jamaica.

Vaz restated that in the time of the pandemic where the whole world has come into the digital media, where almost entire world schools and colleges are closed. Almost all institutions are conducting their classes online. Not only institution but currently in this pandemic whole world is working on the internet.

By giving tablets will encourage the educational growth of our country—the Government's commitment to transform the nation into a digital society.

"This is for this purpose that we are working assiduously to roll out full broadband access across the island so that we can reach every last mile and every citizen. It is going to take some time, but we are committed to making this a reality for the advancement of our people and our country."

Twenty-eight PATH students were beneficiaries of the USF PEP Grant, which is valued at $40,000 each, and one pupil received the PATH ICT Tertiary Scholarship.

Minister is also hoping that these efforts will definitely help the country to grow more and make a new position in the world.