The Ministry of Education yesterday received 100 Acer notebook computers, compliments of two Canada-based Guyanese. This donation is one of the many forms of assistance that the ministry has been receiving for its ICT in Education Initiative.
The contributors, Alan Zakir and Chris Sammy were born and grew up in Guyana, and according to them, when they were of school age they hadn’t the benefit of a computer.
These two men said that what motivated them is the desire “for kids in Guyana” to have some of the things that they now have access to.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Zakir, who left Guyana in 1980, said that “Guyana is poised and set to become a pool of IT talent, which the region can pull from,” and that’s why they are here to support the ministry’s initiative.
He disclosed that he and Sammy plan on shipping 300 more computers upon their return to Canada. He declined to comment on the amount of money spent on the computers.
Also present at the ceremony was Minister of Education Shaik Baksh, who expressed his gratitude to the two gentlemen and spoke about the progress of the ICT initiative.
This initiative is aimed at harnessing the potential of computers and the internet to improve the quality of education for Guyana’s children. Baksh said that by the year 2013 the ministry is hoping to have installed computer labs in 50% of primary schools across Guyana, while all secondary schools should be fully equipped with such labs.
The minister concluded by appealing to more individuals “abroad and local” to come forward and help Guyana’s children. “We need computers for the schools…so adopt a school, make contact with those in the Diaspora, and assist…” he said.
The handing over ceremony was held in the auditorium of the National Centre for Educational Resource Deve-lopment (NCERD) on Battery Road, Kingston.
