Kingston, Jamaica- April 5, 2023: Students and staff at the Harbour View Primary School in East Rural St. Andrew have received a state-of-the-art Smart Room aimed at promoting equal access to digital skills. 

According to Digicel Foundation Chairperson, Jean Lowrie-Chin, these skills will expose students to the increasing number of in-demand jobs that require education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“There are significant opportunities, and maximizing them requires that we enable our youngsters, here in Harbour View as well as across the island, to have the latest available technology for learning, including fast reliable internet connectivity in a safe space. This will allow them to benefit from increased Information and communication Technology (ICT) skills, skills with linkages to all the other STEM areas and beyond,” said Mrs Lowrie-Chin.

Mrs Lowrie-Chin was speaking at the official opening of the Smart Room on Tuesday, April 4.

Acting Principal of the school, Damion Hurst expressed that the room will provide students with much-needed academic support. He said, “One of the major strengths of the new technology is that it creates a massive bridge of the digital divide and it allows for an erosion of the disadvantages of the poor performance that we now experience here at our school.”

“Using this lab will be a unique but fundamental push for learning here at Harbour View Primary School, and I believe that each one of our grades, from one to six, will benefit from this new, enriched and fully improved state-of-the-art room,” Mr Hurst added.

The establishment of the room was made possible through a partnership between Digicel Foundation and the Ministry of Education and Youth.

The partnership forms a part of Digicel Foundation’s STEAM Initiative focused on bridging the digital divide by establishing a fully equipped Smart Room in 10 primary schools across rural Jamaica. Lightning-fast internet connectivity will provided by Digicel+ at each location.

Harbour View Primary’s Smart Room is the fourth to be built thus far.