Form One students in Tobago have started receiving laptops as part of the Ministry of Education’s “Learning Without Limits. A Laptop for Every Child” programme.
After distributing laptops at the Penal Secondary School in Trinidad last week, Minister of Education Dr. Michael Dowlath and his team journeyed to Tobago on Monday for the roll out. Their first stop was the Mason Hall Secondary School with other nine Secondary Schools on the island expected to receive devices by the end of this week.
Minister Dowlath said: “Sufficient laptops, close to one thousand for every Form One student in Tobago and we are starting right here at Mason Hall Secondary. So starting from today, by the end of this week every Form One student in Tobago will have their laptop.”
Secretary of Education Zorisha Hackett explained that Mason Hall Secondary School was selected to be the first as part of her promise to them.
“We are ensuring that students of Tobago are fully included in this national push towards modern education and of course global competitiveness. Mason Hall Secondary School, when I was asked to choose the first school for this distribution exercise I chose you, my lions, following through on my commitment to focus on your academic development and progress.”
Minister Dowlath noted the initiative is part of the government’s commitment to ensuring educational equity.
“It is not really giving you a device but it is giving you a gateway. It’s empowering you, students. It’s allowing you to effectively engage with a digital world. So as part of our commitment to preparing our students for the future, every laptop distributed under this initiative now comes equipped with an AI-powered learning tool, as you saw, and we will display it in a little bit, and this is a leap forward in how we are personalising and individualising education for each one of our learners.”
The Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) under the Ministry of Public Utilities served as the procurement agency for the initiative. The devices include an improved security tracking system and can also provide data analytics for teachers. Parents at the distribution ceremony were reminded of the role they play in ensuring the laptops are used wisely.