NASSAU, Bahamas - The Prime Minister, the Minister of Education and education officials hosted a press conference at the Doris Johnson Secondary School on Monday, 3rd December 2012 to update the public on the progress the ministry has made top date in the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded project to improve technology as an important learning resource and tool in the public school system. In its Charter for Governance, the PLP promised to create technology centres within the public school system through the creation of what it called 21st century classrooms, this according to Education Minister the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald. This project is part of the ministry's INSPIRE Project with the IDB. INSPIRE is the acronym for Investing in Students and Programmes for the Reform of Education. Seated from left at the press conference are school principal at the Doris Johnson Secondary School Mrs. Linda Major; Chief Operations Officer Sharon Miller; Director of Education Lionel Sands; Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie; Education, Science and Technology Minister the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald; Project Manager Dr. Karen Saint Cyr and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Ms. Donnella Bodie.
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Nassau, The Bahamas - The Ministry of Education has spent $2.2 million over
the past four months to improve the technological infrastructure of 76 Primary
and Secondary Public Schools throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
The upgrades are part of Phase I of
the Government’s plan to “transform schools into strong, technological centres”
through national and international linkages utilising an Information
Communications Technology (ICT) Sub-Component.
Government officials say – due to
the large investment in the ICT Sub-Component – a Technology Coordination Unit
(TCU) has been formed and given oversight of establishing a school
instructional technology support structure that will ensure that at least 80
per cent of the ICT hardware is functional at all times.
Minister of Education, Science and
Technology, the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, said the plan was launched as far back
as 2004 by after then Minister of Education, Alfred Sears, saw the need then to
negotiate a loan with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in order to
transform the nation’s public schools into “21st century educational
centres of excellence.”
“As we reveal the continued
strategic plan for the Information Technology Sub-Component of that strategy,
we are speaking to the fundamental issues that were identified based on
extensive diagnostic research carried out during the Project definition Phase
from 2004-2008,” Mr. Fitzgerald said. “
“What we are seeing today is the
culmination of that research. It may have taken us six years to get here, but
there is an old saying: ‘Better late than never.’ The aim of the Ministry of
Education, Science and Technology with regards to ICT is to give public schools
throughout The Bahamas a significant technology boost.”
Mr. Fitzgerald said the objective
will be attained through the implementation of four strategies that will
include: creating an educational system that is technologically sound and
competitive by placing appropriate emphasis on training and skills development
in technology, and by making education more relevant by ensuring that teachers
and students are equipped to perform at their best in response to the changing
needs for the growth and development of The Bahamas in a global market.
Additionally, ministry officials
will ensure the effective management of education by training teachers,
administrators and technical officers to employ technology to effectively carry
out administrative work, and by providing ICT-related career opportunities for
a large number of Bahamian youth.
“Investment in this ICT
Sub-Component has been enormous, therefore it is crucial that measures are put
in place to oversee the implementation of the strategy,” Mr. Fitzgerald said.
“This oversight comes in the
formation of a Technology Coordination Unit (TCU) which has the ambitious goal
of putting in place a school instructional technology support structure to
complement the increased hardware, software and training and to ensure that at
least 80 per cent of ICT hardware is functional at all times,” Mr. Fitzgerald
added.
The Education Minister said two
Bahamian companies have won the bids to provide the ICT hardware, software and
related services for Phase I of the implementation.
“The Project has gone relatively
smoothly and remains within budget,” he said. “Last week I signed off on Phase
II, the final stage of this project which will see a further expansion of
technology in the public school system to the tune of approximately $850,000,
bringing the total investment in ICT within one year to above the $3million
mark,” Mr. Fitzgerald added.
Phase II of ICT Project to begin in second quarter
of 2013
By Matt Maura
Bahamas Information Services
NASSAU, The Bahamas
--- Minister of Education, Science and Technology, the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald,
recently “signed off” on Phase II of the Government’s Information
Communications Technology (ICT) Sub-Component that is expected to lead to a
further expansion of technology in the public school system.
The deal was for $850,000, bringing the total
investment in the Sub-Component to “near the $3 million mark.”
The Ministry of Education has spent $2.2 million
over the past four months to improve the technological infrastructure of 76
Primary and Secondary Public Schools throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
The upgrades are part of Phase I of the
Government’s plan to “transform schools into strong, technological centres”
through national and international linkages utilising an Information
Communications Technology (ICT) Sub-Component.
“This is but one example of what we meant when
we said that we would double the nation’s investment in education and
training,” Mr. Fitzgerald said.
The Education Minister said Phase II of the
Project, which is expected to be installed between April and June, 2013, will
create more “subject-specific labs” while enhancing the linkages and
connectivity between schools.”
“This will enhance the sharing of information
and communication,” Mr. Fitzgerald said. “I am a firm believer that education
is the key to empowerment. I have said many times that education is the great
equaliser. It is blind and does not see colour, religion or creed, or one’s
socio-economic background.”
Mr. Fitzgerald said: “As policymakers and
leaders it is our obligation and responsibility to ensure that those who are
privileged and those who are not, are exposed to the best teaching and the
latest learning tools.”
“I have no doubt that this intervention has
ushered in a permanent, positive transformation of education in our public
schools and has set the standard for the future reform of technology in
education,” Mr. Fitzgerald added.
