Another primary school has used the money granted after approval of its School Improvement Plan (SIP) to construct a reading room to boost the literacy level of students.
The Montrose Primary School on Friday launched it newly constructed information technology/reading room.
The school had received $1M in 2008 after its SIP which was submitted in August of 2005 was approved by the School Improvement Grant Initiative. The initial goal of the school was to raise its literacy level throughout the school by five percent but it broadened that goal after it received the computers to include members of the community.
The headmistress of the school, Padmouti Puran explained that the money granted by the Ministry of Education was used to construct the room that houses the computers and books while the computers were a donation from Food for the Poor. Puran noted the exceptional effort that was put in by members of the Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) and the School Improvement Action Committee (SIAC) and thanked them for all their hard work.
The headmistress also stated that the possibility of offering computer classes to members of the community was being explored. However, the computers will be put to use immediately by the Grade Six pupils and in September computer classes for the entire school will be worked into the syllabus. The headmistress stated that this is being done so that children can have a “head start” in the use of the computers since some of them have never “laid eyes or touched or worked with such equipment”.
Meanwhile, Anthony Haunte the Community Involvement Specialist within the Ministry of Education, stated that the Ministry was happy with how the money was being used and told the children at the ceremony, “I leave the responsibility of the room to you the pupils. When I return I’d like to see how you the pupils use the room and take care of it.” He said he was impressed with the way the school expanded the use of the reading room with additional resources to include the computers.
The school had initially planed a reading room but members of the PTA sought out Food for the Poor and the Restoring Hope International Organisation to assist in the donation of computers. Food for the Poor then decided to donate two sets of networked computers to the school. Present at the ceremony on Friday, Leon Davis, Head of Food for the Poor (Guyana) Inc, explained that the donation was a part of celebrating the organisation’s eighteenth anniversary. He also noted the importance of education and stated that his organisation will always work with schools who seek them out for assistance.
He urged the children to take care of the equipment that they now have at their disposal and vowed to return to see how it was being used.
The Restoring Hope International Organisation provided the finance for the electrical equipment that will power the systems. The group plans to donate books to the reading room as well and is currently working in the community to repair the playground.
With the construction of the new room, it is hoped that the children will be able to develop their reading skills, learn how to use the computers all in a comfortable and reading-friendly atmosphere.
The school is requesting further help and anyone interested can contact the HM to find out how they can make contributions. (Tiffny Rhodius)