(EMU) – St. Kitts, January 21, 2014 -- Education officials managing the infusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) into schools met on Monday (January 20) to assess progress and plan the way forward.
Representative of the Organization of American States (OAS) to St. Kitts and Nevis, Starett Greene, told participants that his organization stepped in to assist when it realized the Ministry of Education’s commitment to ICT based on its revolutionary One-to-One Laptop Project, which equips high school students with a personal computer. He added that the OAS recognized the Ministry’s efforts to bridge the students’ receipt of technology with the desire to maximize its effect on the teaching and learning process.
Mr. Greene revealed that the Ministry of Education and Information partnering with the OAS’ Special Multilateral Fund of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (FEMCIDI), and other countries in the Region agreed to the designing of a multi-national project proposal that has as one of its components training for teachers and administrators and those who held managerial and leadership positions across the OECS sub-region.
Minister of Education and Information, Hon. Nigel Carty stated that the 21st century demands that young people possess the ability to operate in an information age.
“Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become an integral part of the operations of all organizations and businesses as well as our social lives,” stated Minister Carty. “A good percentage of our students will be involved in some ICT-related job upon school completion.”
Commenting on the distribution of laptops to secondary school teachers in March of 2013, the Minister said it was a natural step in the process of integrating into teaching.
“The ubiquitous influence of laptops, tablets and smart phones is commonplace in our children’s lives and our teachers’ as well,” Minister Carty said, “These devices have changed the way we live and by extension the way our children learn and ought to transform the way our teachers teach.”
The minister said it was also imperative that the teaching fraternity become the focus so that teachers’ instruction skills are aligned with other ICT initiatives.
Minister Carty was highly complimentary of the OAS’ unwavering commitment to its member states in the area of education. He added that its programme and professional development courses have provided access to higher education for students and professionals in its 34 member countries.
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Sports, Information Technology; also Director of Information Technology, Christopher Herbert facilitated the workshop.
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