$114m for school tablet computer content...Hon. Minister Phillip Paulwell said Jamaica's educational landscape is being transformed through the use of this critical aid. Content is available for the subject areas of mathematics, English language, and the sciences from the lower primary to the secondary level. Contract signed with Bryan’s Bookstores Limited

Friday, November 14, 2014  

THE Government has spent $114 million for the provision of electronic content on the tablet computers, under the Tablets in Schools pilot programme.

Content is available for the subject areas of mathematics, English language, and the sciences from the lower primary to the secondary level.

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip
 Paulwell (left), President of Bryan’s Bookstores Limited
Paul Bryan (centre), and Minister of Education Rev Ronald
Thwaites sign a contract for the provision of electronic content
on tablet computers, under the Tablets in Schools pilot
programme, during a ceremony at the Petroleum Corporation
of Jamaica (PCJ), New Kingston, on Wednesday. Standing
are Board members of e-learning Jamaica Limited,
Lloyd Lovindeer (right) and Trevor Francis.

This was disclosed by Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell, during a $76 million contract signing ceremony with members of the local and international publishing fraternity for the supply of additional electronic content on the devices.

"The contracts being signed are for the purchase and satisfactory delivery of content for the Tablets in Schools Project and includes publication in e-book form as well as web-based resource material," the minister said.

He informed that the process used in selecting the five local and four overseas content suppliers has been transparent and every effort has been made to ensure cost-effective delivery.

"The content and general uses of the computer tablets are in tandem with the curriculum approved by the Ministry of Education and as far as possible, local books that are available electronically and satisfies the ministry's criteria, have been considered," he said.

Paulwell said Jamaica's educational landscape is being transformed through the use of this critical aid.

Minister of Education Rev Ronald Thwaites said the ultimate objective is to ensure that the new curriculum, which is being developed, will be available by virtual means.

"This is not a substitute or disrespect for books, but it is to centrally locate the future of education and a very significant element of it is in the realm of virtual learning," he said. more