Basseterre, St. Kitts: The much-anticipated distribution of laptops and tablets to students under the Government’s One-to-One Laptop Programme continued last Monday, November 20, marking a significant step toward narrowing the digital divide in education. This initiative also reflects the Minister of Education’s fervent commitment to advancing such programs.
The distribution process began with meticulous planning to guarantee a seamless and efficient rollout. The initial set of devices was distributed to primary and secondary students throughout St. Kitts.
Hon. Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, Minister of Education, who participated in the Washington Archibald High School’s distribution, gave insight into the capabilities of the devices.
“As we move towards a sustainable island state, education is one of the driving forces to get us exactly where we need to get and education without technology just would not work. I am very happy with the support from the cabinet in support of this initiative because we are not just distributing a laptop or a device. It is in fact one that has been equipped with all the students’ textbooks, their exercises, and videos that they can look at that reinforce the various topics. Another thing that is unique about this is that parents can also get involved because they will have access to the device and will be able to know exactly what their children are doing with the devices. It is also a way for our teachers to be able to assess their students one-on-one because of the nature of the device.”
The One-to-One Laptop Program is part of the government’s broader commitment to leveraging technology for educational advancement and is therefore crucial to building a future where every student has the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world.