GOVERNMENT begins its final distribution of laptops to teachers and pupils today (Thursday) from the 20,000 which was procured.
The Ministry of Education in a press release on Thursday that data collected from all primary and secondary schools in September, revealed that 2,612 teachers, and 2,365 pupils were identified as still requiring devices.
All requirements will be met during the week-long distribution period which will continue until September 30, the ministry stated.
The ministry has already distributed 14,608 laptops, under the Government Laptop Distribution Programme to students of primary, secondary and special schools, and 6,659 laptops to teachers since March 2020.
The Ministry of Education also began the distribution of MiFi devices to teachers and students on Thursday. Of the 10,000 procured, 1300 have been received and will be distributed over the period. Distributions will continue as more MiFi devices arrive, the ministry added.
Through a collaboration with the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT), an agency of the Ministry of Digital Transformation, and the contracting of required services, 134 secondary and 72 primary school plants will benefit from enhanced Wi-Fi connectivity.
To date, 28 of the 72 primary schools have received enhanced Wi-Fi access in designated areas such as the principal’s office, staff room, computer lab and library, “and work continues to bring the others into alignment” the ministry added.
Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said, “To achieve equity in quality education in any environment, and more so under our current realities, requires the input and support of multiple agencies.
“What has been achieved to date would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of the executive and staff of the Ministry of Education- particularly the Information Communication Technology (ICT), School Supervision and Educational Planning Divisions, our sponsors, corporate T&T- who provided over 23,000 devices directly to students through the Adopt-a-School Initiative, TATT and the Ministry of Digital Transformation. I want to say thank you on behalf of the children of this nation.”
