More than 5,000 hinterland students are expected to benefit from the implementation of a digital learning platform, after an agreement was signed between the Education Ministry, the Organisation of American States (OAS), and ProFuturo Foundation.
The Ministry of Education on Saturday signed a technical assistance cooperation agreement for the implementation of the platform, which is intended to bridge the education gap between the coastal and hinterland regions.
It was stated that ProFuturo is an education programme launched in 2016 by Telefónica Foundation and “La Caixa” Foundation, the mission of which is to “narrow the education gap in the world by providing quality digital education for children in vulnerable environments in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia”. This mission, it was noted, falls in line with Goal four of the United Nations’ 2030 sustainable development agenda, which relates to access to equitable and inclusive quality education for all.
The partnership is expected to benefit 28 hinterland schools, provide training to 449 teachers, and reach 5,435 hinterland primary students.
The ministry release noted that the agreement was signed between Minister of Education Dr Nicolette Henry; Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the OAS, and Sofia Ferandez de Mesa, General Director of ProFuturo Foundation.
Henry was accompanied by Lesley Dowridge-Collins, Deputy Chief of Mission and Jason Fields, First Secretary/ Alternate Representative to the OAS.
The minister, who expressed gratitude on behalf of the government for the technical assistance provided by the organisations, acknowledged the difficulties faced in achieving equitable education in countries with topographies like Guyana’s, and noted that ICT becomes very relevant for ensuring that quality education is provided in all areas. Guyana became the first Caribbean country to sign on to the agreement, after meeting the criteria necessary to launch the programme. The release indicated that other countries are to sign on soon.
