The use of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) in Dominican schools will be expanded with the implementation of a new project, ‘Digital Classroom Live Portal’.
The Ministry of Education on Friday launched the project at the Public Service Training Centre, in partnership with the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL).
The pilot project, funded by the World Bank, will first be developed in secondary schools on the island, and education officials say it is intended to advance teaching and learning in a technologically advancing world.
In his first speech as Minister for Information and Telecommunication, Ambrose George told those gathered for the launch of the project, government is moving to great heights to facilitate ICT in Dominica in the 21st century.
“As a result of the recent upgrades at over 19 computer labs in schools across Dominica, over 450 computers, printers, servers have been deployed. This has created the right environment for supporting the proposed project. Many schools have been networked and will soon contain servers which could be allowed to catch a certain number of digital lessons which can then be easily streamed into the classroom, using a laptop, wireless connection, and a projector,” George said.
Minister for Education Petter St. Jean stated the use of foreign expertise to enhance the school’s productivity will become something of the past, with implementation of the new project.
“No longer will we be dependent on external expertise for improving our practices …We can now benefit from the demonstrations of examples from within our shores and our very own education system. Through this valuable project, our teachers are expected to enhance their ability to manage and manipulate the power of online communication and sharing, towards the ultimate attainment of the delivery of quality education to every student,” St. Jean stated.
The project is intended to establish online video and multimedia communication between secondary schools, to encourage knowledge sharing, and to familiarize secondary school students with using digital media for learning.
It will be completed within seven months.
– DNO Correspondent
Good work done! Please don’t forget the countryside aand the elementary school. The next generation needs to be empowered.My country did neglect the children and are suffering now trying to involve basic schools.Good work once again.
We plan for tomorrow, as we live for today, in our quest for higher heights, struggling man keeps moving on.
Hopefully Dominica won’t look to the Americans for any ideas on education – the USA, despite being the most expensive education system in the world, has resulted in the following statistic:
America is 2nd only to Mexico among illiteracy in industrialized nations!
In fact, the more money they “dump” on the problem, the worse the outcome. Take Washington DC for instance – It spends more money per student than any other place in the world; yet, it has the worse student stats of any American city!
One of the reason for such poor education results in America:
Rockefeller and Dewey invented a US education system that eliminated the critical thinking from education.
One of the most brilliant books on this topic is a free online download, 450 pages; but with all the source citations & copies of actual Dept Ed docs is over 1300 pages
Title: Deliberate Dumbing Down of America, by Charlotte Iserbyt, former Senior Policy Advisor in the US Department of Education
Also free online are: The Sowing of the Seeds
And also: The Leipzig Connection: Sabotage of the US Educational System
Great old idea revisited. GrandBayrian is correct. This thing was sitting in the pipeline for while. I am glad it has been resurrected. I am glad to see we are taking bold and progressive steps to make this a reality.
Now, let us focus our attention on literacy, enhanced universal education – including technical schools and apprenticeship, specialized schools, and job creation so that we can employ the educated. Remember, we must employ the educated. If not, we will have very educated people without a forum to utilize their skills.
Incredibly courageous, on behalf of the department for their progress in the information age. Things do take time, and for those who have cast a first stone at the idea, you need to think about the education necessary to fasciltate the hardware and software associated with such infrastucture. I know that the minister has already identified the industry that will create jobs for some Dominicans.
The island is noticeable making positive, aggressive and forward movements….. ICT is exactly what we need in our schools to help our children move successfully into the 21st century.
To the PM and his ministers, let your work so shine before men, that they may see your good work, and glorify your father, which is in heaven. Rome was not built in one day and neither will Dominica, in spite of our desire to see or hear of instant progression. Did the people not turn against Moses while he was leading them to safety? If you lead the country in the direction which will successfully take it to the next level, God will guide you and provide the means by which the work will be done. Progression will neither be seen nor appreciated by all, but remember, if you have faith and believe in the power of the almighty, no weapon form against you shall prosper. If God is for you, who can be against you….. forward ever backwards never…….
I hope that buildings and roads will be safely and properly constructed, ICT as well as other proposed programs, efficiently executed, and the ones responsible for initiating and monitoring the continued growth of the many projects, do so safely, honestly and responsibly.
This is interesting… first I read about strides being made in my first career – Psychology; now strides are being made in my other specialty – Computer Science; this means that I could actually find ways to give back and make a meaningful contribution to the development of my country when I can return home!!!
Good for teaching many high school students to read and write.A significant percentage can’t. ARE WE RUNNING AWAY FROM THAT?
Government that is working! Isn’t that so?
That sounds good. Enough Dominicans have studied IT and our (including me) expertise has been ignored for too long, with the idea that what comes from overseas is always better. These overseas people could treat us like dogs but because they are from overseas usually of a different colour it didn’t matter. I wish every success to this new move to improve education, and to use local expertise.
It will probably advance mind control if it is funded and approved by the World Bank. That is one of their objectives. It makes it easier to program and control people and they are targeting the youth.
Between the “great heights” and the “next level”, who really knows where anything is headed.
Considering that they (Obama, Microsoft, Google) are planning on shutting down the old internet where you have access to a lot of information and moving to Internet 2, in which they will monitor, censor and control your access to information, doesn’t sound like progress to me.
Sounds like mind and information control.
They may give the students computers to take home so that they can spy on them in their homes. That is already happening in the US and other places. Big Brother at home with you.
That was probably an “extra gift” that Mr. Zoellick brought with him.
People need to wake up as to what is happening.
Now, the person who should be getting the credit for that initiative, is the Late Rosie Douglas, who on his last visit to Canada met with a Well known Dominican Scientist they came up with a plan which CIDA financed the feasibility studies of the project….
… Now after almost 10 years they same project that was killed, The Ministers is talking like this is a new idea. I know success has a thousand parts, and everyone wants to claim responsibility for their share. Give the Late Rosie Douglas his share too.
Great idea, Your ministry should also colaborate with the Ministry of Education to look into the possibility of introducing Promethean boards into the elementary classroom. They are fantastic teaching tool. . It creates a very interacive leaning environment and students are extremely excited. I am using it in my classroom and my students are just have a swell time.
they are quite expensive though, but they are indeed great teaching tools for schools instead of using those blackboards. i currently use one where i teach and to tell you the truth, i do not think that I could do without one. The resources that are available to use from other educators are great.
bravo our we are making progress
Let me congratulate the D.L.P government
We are on the right move taking information communication technology ICT in our schools to the next level.
Great Idea. Better late than never. If our children are exposed to computer technology very early, their learning experience will be greatly enhanced and they will be at a competive advantage when they leave secondary school.
However, what I would like to see is the establishment of network for all government offices as well. If at all existent, very few government departments have newtowrk communication linkages between them. The establishment of such a system would facilitate the flow and access of information within government departments.
I am surprised that in this age of computer technology, there are still many government offices and many public officers do not have a computer ( and internet ) in their offices.
I would like to second that motion, this is an important step. Information should be readily available for use at any government institution when needed.
very good 1000% supportive of this innovation in our classrooms nice to hear that it is being implemented at the primary schools nothing beats a solid education when it`s being applied from the base up to the top level, these young kids are our future leaders and the country and educational department is on the right tract to start them off on there educational journey at an early age into the digital future..
Brilliant idea in theory, but the reality of it all is that the whole implementation of it all is going to be left to a bunch of clueless school principals and bogged down in a bunch of bureaucratic bullsh** by those technocrats in the ministry.
It would also be nice that with all these ‘servers’ and networked computers to increase schools ‘productivity’ that maybe someone will start dealing seriously with the issue of multiple students in forms 3 – 5 that still cannot read and can barely spell their own names!
The system is moving so fast now that Bank robbers don’t have to go to the Banks with guns any more, but just remain at their homes and steal from the banks.
Good move mr. Minister.