The government has revealed that the E-Government Unit has begun rolling out Wi- Fi networks in schools, with the hinterland and remote areas projected to benefit from internet access by the end of the first quarter of 2016.
A Ministry of the Presidency release yesterday reported that E-Government Advisor, Floyd Levi, said that currently the Unit is focussing on facilitating the implementation of the infrastructural networks, which includes the transmission and the data networks and the setting up of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Hubs and Access Points across the country by next year end.
The Wi-Fi project was launched at President’s College and will be conducted as a pilot to determine the exact needs and requirements for the other schools to benefit. Levi guaranteed that usage of the Wi-Fi service will be supervised so as to ensure students’ safety and control.
“At President’s College, they have a strict regime. The Wi-Fi comes on at 6:00 am and goes off at 10:00 pm and what we have done is to install a “white list” of sites. This blocks them from visiting sites, which is not approved by the administration or is deemed inappropriate. This is in keeping with international guidelines so there is control”, he said.
Levi added that the unit has been mandated to provide internet access to all tertiary educational institutes, such as the Cyril Potter College of Education, the University of Guyana and all of the technical institutes.
He also shared that the Unit is actively engaged in a similar project in Paramakatoi, in Region Eight to assist students in the hinterland areas, who have limited or no access to internet. “Some of the subjects taught at the CXC levels require that School Based Assessments (SBAs) be submitted online and the students who live here are at a disadvantage… we are working towards getting all elements in place.” the advisor said.
The release also informed that government ministries, agencies and public buildings are also due to be furnished with Wi-Fi networks for visitors and consumers to access during their visits. According to Levi plans are on stream to consolidate internet access and email services for ministries, by way of an agreement, which would see email addresses for these agencies being moved to the gov.gy domain.
To this end he has had held discussions in connection with the regional representatives of the Microsoft and CISCO Corporations.
