Kingston, Jamaica – November 20, 2023: Two Clarendon-based primary schools are the latest schools to benefit from a Smart Room courtesy of the Digicel Foundation under their STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) initiative.

Four Paths Primary and Infant and Mineral Heights Primary schools officially opened their state-of-the-art Smart Room on Thursday, November 09 and Tuesday, November 14, 2023, respectively, signifying a leap towards bridging the digital divide and fostering STEAM education in the parish.

Regional Director in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Region 7, Barrington Richardson, who served as the guest speaker at both events, shared that the Ministry continues to emphasize the importance of integrating technology in teaching and learning. “Technology is a very integral part of our existence, especially since COVID-19 when we were plunged into that space. The Ministry of Education and Youth, through the National Standards Curriculum, speaks to the integration of technology in teaching and learning. Digicel Foundation has now aided our schools in moving swiftly to enable technology in the classroom.”

Speaking at the handover of the Four Paths Primary and Infant School’s Smart Room, Member of Parliament for Clarendon South-Western, Lothan Cousins reiterated the importance of incorporating technology in primary schools. He said, “If we are to remain competitive as a nation, we must ensure we are ahead where technological advancement and innovation are concerned. I don’t believe it should start at the primary or the secondary levels but at the very basic level.”

Principal of Four Paths Primary and Infant, Rose-Marie Logan, expressed enthusiasm about the positive changes the Smart Room will bring to the learning environment, stating, "As a nation, we are constantly evolving and so our approach to teaching and learning must also be an evolutionary process. Our students have been afforded the opportunity to discover real-world applications, experience greater creativity and develop 21^st-century skills.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Labour and Social Security and Member of Parliament for Clarendon South-Eastern, Pearnel Charles Jr., expressed that, through the Smart Room, the students of Mineral Heights Primary can enhance their creativity and critical thinking skills. He said, “This room is for both students and teachers to have a gateway into the new era of interactive and engaging learning. For you to become the champions, thinkers, and ideologists, it starts by giving you the technology and the platform to learn.”

Charmaine Daniels, CEO of the Digicel Foundation, shared that the Foundation has long recognized the importance of education in youth development. She shared, “To date, we have invested over USD 630,000 in 10 Smart Rooms in primary schools. In the parish of Clarendon alone, we have invested over USD 2.6 million across 57 projects and a total of USD 1.5 million has been invested in educational projects, reflecting our belief in the potential and the talent that exists within this community.”

Digicel Foundation's STEAM initiative aims to bridge the digital divide and expose youth to STEAM careers. Each Smart Room is equipped with the latest technology and interactive learning tools, including 12 laptops, 12 tablets, a smart board, and a printer.