Smart classroom for all schools countrywide – Manickchand

…commissions facility at Stewartville Secondary

Embracing the digital age where technology is gradually introduced in teaching, the Education Ministry is endeavouring to have one smart classroom in every school.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Monday commissioned the newest smart classroom at Stewartville Secondary in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), an investment which infuses technology into learning.
Through devices and software, it also allows teachers from different schools to enter the classroom and offer their expertise from afar.
“The smart classroom is very, very versatile in what it can do. It is recommended across the world for teaching and learning. The dream is that every school must have at least one smart classroom in their facility. And of course, the real idealistic position would be that every classroom is smart at some point very soon. That’s the aim. That’s what we want to do,” the Minister disclosed.
Minister Manickchand shed light on the massive developments currently ongoing on an infrastructural level, and the intention that the country’s children are not left behind.
“We want to make sure every single Guyanese participate in that thriving Guyana and so it’s very important that we are able to make you into the best version of yourself…What we really talking about is the development of each of you, each of you to make you better than you currently are and to give you more opportunities than your parents ever had; to give you a life of plenty, to give you a life where struggle is not something you know. That’s what we want to build out.”
She charged students to take control of their performance and efforts to make sure their future is brighter. According to her, students have a responsibility to ensure that they take advantage of opportunities.
The Minister told the student population, “You have a responsibility to make sure you can thrive in this Guyana or else what you will find is that people who are taking up your opportunities, people who are using those opportunities are going up and you’re just there.”
Meanwhile, Regional Chairman Inshan Ayube lauded Government’s investment in advancing education so that the country can compete with global advancements.
“We are going to use this classroom to enhance our students so that they can be better equipped to function in an advanced world. A country can have resources. A country can have all that it takes to promote education. But if you do not have a Government with a vision and a Minister with a determination then we will be achieving so much less,” Ayube contended.
He called for the facilities to be used in an accountable manner where no child is left behind.
“It is the responsibilities of the head of this school in conjunction with all the teachers to ensure that when we have these resources placed at our disposal, that we must be very accountable for the manner in how we use them and how we care. And we have to ensure that our students have access to these facilities without too much red herrings. Many times, we create our own problems administratively within these environments.”
In 2014, the first smart classroom was introduced at North Ruimveldt Secondary. When Government returned to office in 2020, it subsequently added several others across the country. Presently, Smart classrooms exist in Berbice, Essequibo, Georgetown and several other areas.
There are several interactive boards in classrooms for the Grade Seven level, where students can have notes transferred digitally as opposed to physical note taking. Over 100 tablets are also being loaned to students. (G12)