Guyana’s annual hackathon will this year be focusing on enhancing the education system, which has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The hackathon was launched yesterday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) under the theme ‘Digitizing Our Education System for 2020 and Beyond.’
The event is scheduled to run from December 5th until December 7th.
Speaking at the launch, Prime Minister Mark Phillips stated that there is significant potential for development of tools and products that will benefit the education sector. “The world today is one that is very dependent on technology. Technology has served as a catalyst through which we will be able to carry out business and maintain personal relationships while confined to our homes. The importance of ICT cannot be understated as it serves as a means for the social and economic development across the world. Our government has the mandate to ensure that we develop an environment that is conducive to technological development and innovation,” he added before stating that the government through the Office of the Prime Minister is committed to developing an ICT-equipped society to create technology solutions that will position Guyana to cope with the ever-changing ICT landscape.
Phillips’ ministry has responsibility for the telecommunications sector.
Phillips also said the education system is at the top of the government’s priority list regarding technological development as it has been of one of the most affected sectors since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is Imperative now, more than ever, that we focus our attention on providing solutions to the education sector that will enhance our current system as well as develop our focus areas to better our delivery of education for the students. The onus is therefore on us to provide a much needed support for our teachers and students as we work towards creating a bright future for all Guyanese,” he said.
Further, Phillips asserted that technology is the tool that will provide the balance needed to weather the pandemic. He says that this opportunity will also prepare the education sector for the future.
Meanwhile, Dwight Ferguson, of the Office of the Prime Minister, explained that the goal of this year’s hackathon is to create a functioning software application to be used by the Ministry of Education for, among other things, electronic generation of school reports and easy access to student related information.
Twenty-one teams are vying for the first prize, which is $500,000, while the second place prize is $350,000 and the third place prize is $250,000.
