By Junior Grandison, Gleaner WriterPETERSFIELD, Westmoreland:
FOUR HUNDRED students and 20 teachers joined from eight schools in Belmont and surrounding communities of Westmoreland are now benefiting from free computer training.
The schools to benefit are Bluefields, Mearnsville, Farm, Cave, Salvation Army basic schools, the Bluefields and Mearnsville all-age schools and Ferris Primary. This training is provided by the Bluefields People's Citizens Association, through its computer lab, which was officially opened on Friday, June 9 by Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Commerce, Science & Technology.
The BPCA Computer Lab is the brainchild of chairman Keith Wedderburn, who told The Gleaner that Robert Owen, a resident of New York in the United States, donated 22 computers and accessories for this project. Air Jamaica, in its contribution, brought them to Jamaica free of cost.
Minister Paulwell said the project involves the development of a core set of instructional material for teachers and students in five main subject areas: mathematics, English language, integrated science, social studies and information technology.
He said the strategy is to develop high quality contents in selected subjects for teachers and students between Grades 7 and 11, drawing on information and communication technology, a key instrument in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of both teaching and learning for both the in school and the out of school youngsters between the ages of 15-24.
Material will be prepared using local centres of excellence, teachers and other appropriate personnel. Facilitators outside the formal schools will be trained and encouraged to conduct training to meet the needs of the 15-24, who are outside of the formal education system.
"The material developed will draw heavily on modern information and communication technologies and facilitate distance teaching and learning," the Minister said. "We are looking at the establishment of dedicated subject channels via cable for key subjects such as English and mathematics and we are encouraging the private sector to support in sponsoring these subject channels."
For youths who are out of school and who may not have access to electronic systems, he said, material will be packaged and developed to facilitate them, thus ensuring that the less fortunate are not placed at serious disadvantage. Director of the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ), John McFarlane, said the EFJ has contributed some $3.58 million to the project and will continue to help the BPCA.
Material will also be posted on websites, and zrecorded on CDs and DVDs.
