Four hundred and thirty-seven Region Three families received computers through the One Laptop for Family (OLPF) programme when the second phase of the programme started on Monday last.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, 165 laptops were distributed a the Kawall Primary School, Canal Number Two and 172 were distributed at the Wales Community Centre.
The recipients also participated in two hours of a mandatory 10-hour training they must complete before full ownership of the computer is transferred to them. The session, conducted on site by the OLPF trainers, is an introductory course to computers as most recipients are first-time users of this type of technology.
The distribution exercise will continue at various locations across Region Three until month end. Similar distribution exercises will be held in regions Two, Four, Five, Six, Seven and Ten until the end of the year. According to GINA, about 2,438 laptops were distributed countrywide during the first half of this year. By June month end a total of 11,149 systems had been given out.
The release noted that the OLPF programme remains one of the key components of government’s communication strategy which is aimed at improving the social and economic welfare of all Guyanese. The programme, pioneered by former president Bharrat Jagdeo was launched in 2011 and will be implemented over a three-year period to 90,000 needy families.
The systems are currently being distributed to persons earning $50,000 or less, differently-abled persons and single parents.
In May, the OLPF Secretariat announced that it was now accepting applications from persons earning up to $100,000. The release also noted that several ICT hubs have been installed in secondary schools countrywide and a fibre optic cable from Brazil to Guyana will ensure high speed access to the internet.
