ALEXANDER BASIC SCHOOL IN MANCHSETER RECEIVES NEW COMPUTER

The Alexander Basic School in Manchester was the first of six schools in the parish to receive computers through a partnership between the Digicel Foundation and the Camara Jamaica Foundation. The handover took place on Thursday, March 14. Located in St. Toolies District, the school has been in operation since 1990, and serves students from a range of communities including May Pen. Previously, the school had been operating without a computer and with limited access to teaching resources. The computer will assist in enhancing teaching and learning in the classroom. “We are happy to provide Alexander Basic School with this learning tool so that these students can be exposed to technology from a young age,” noted Digicel Foundation Executive Director, Samantha Chantrelle. “In today’s world it is essential for students to have basic IT skills. Having access to a computer will also allow teachers to better prepare lesson plans which will enhance both teaching and learning.”  Marlie Hill, Ebenezer and Frankfield Primary Schools, Fergusson All Age and Pratville Primary and Infant School, all located in Manchester, will also receive computers. The Digicel Foundation formed the partnership with the Camara Jamaica Foundation to encourage the exploration of technology to access information and knowledge— a skill which will prove essential to the future successes of this generation of Jamaicans.   Camara Jamaica uses technology to improve education through computer reuse.  Camara also provides software training for teachers. Since 2011, Digicel Foundation has placed approximately 750 computers in educational institutions across the island. The computers are all preloaded with educational software and include technical support as well as training for the educators who will use them. “Our main mission is to improve education through technology,” expressed Karl Gaynor CEO of the Camara Jamaica Foundation. “We focus heavily on getting technology into the rural schools and also training for the teachers. It is the rural communities that need these resources the most.”