The Hon. Minister for Information, Science, Telecommunications and Technology, Kelver Darroux wants parents and those concerned to rest assured that his Ministry along with the Ministry of Education have put mechanisms in place to ensure that tablets being handed out to secondary school students are secure.
The One Tablet Per Child Initiative, promised during the election campaign in 2014 was officially launched at the Pierre Charles Secondary School last Wednesday September 30th.
On Monday October 5th, students from the Isaiah Thomas Secondary School received their tablets and it is expected that over the course of the week more schools will receive their devices.
However, some have raised concerns about the security of the devices. The Hon. Minister says these concerns have already been considered.
“To allay the fears of the general public, whether a child has a tablet or not and wants to go on a site, you cannot prevent that. Let’s not be naïve about this thing. But we also have to be responsible and our responsibility as Government is to ensure that the students have the tools- which we have done. I believe that the two Ministries have to iron out some guidelines for the students and that is being done as we speak. Once that is finalized, we will see improvements,” he stated.
Hon. Darroux said the focus was first on distribution.
“The Ministry of Education already has the system in place so that when the tablets are logged on to the system, we can install the appropriate software which will control the sites which students will visit in the school setting.
Meantime, Principal of the Isaiah Thomas Secondary School, Shirley Samuel says the students need the devices.
“Some of them already have at home but there are many who can’t afford it. So we are very grateful for the Government’s provision,” she said. “Truly you are making access to education a level playing field.”
Ok, first thanks to the government for the distribution of the tablets. Now to all who are giving the negative comment on the use of the tablets. I cannot afford a 150US phone yet when i visited Dominica some two years ago the average cellphone andriod or smart was about 500-1000 ec dollars. School age children had access to them. some have laptops and desktop way before the government made it available that the others can be on the same playfield as he others. I believe if we as concern citizens are wiling l to help each child in improving the educational skills monitoring our kids should be a priority. I myself am not computer literate but i have friends thatare and i ask them to put in the necessary programme blockers on their to ensure some of the negative things you talkingabout done happen, again some of these children are so ept on this technology they are way advance therefore what have to happen . Let pray they use it for the good and not the bad.
These children have cell phones they have access to the internet. Who contols that.
You WE ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT SITES THE KIDS ACCESS! They can get unto any site with any other device!
IT’S WHAT YOUR ‘BENEFACTOR FRIEND’ HAVE PLANTED IN THE TABLET WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT!
THE PARENTS AND CHILDREN ALIKE SHOULD BE CONCERNED.
DON’T PLAY US FOR FOOLS!
What brand are these tablets? For thanksgiving last year walmart had them for $20. I hope they are not proscan brand
so what! just stay oveseas, dont contribute to your country and criticize. stupes
This GOVT puts the CART before the HORSE all the time. Security should have been the number one priority with full implementation before distribution.
But again the intent of the Tablets was never to assist with kids education because the security plan would have been done prior. It was a gift, end of story and now they are on the back foot with the gift. So they are trying to appease therefore now the Tablets are link to school for education.
such a disorganised move by the ministry…we welcome the tablets but Mr Minister each and every tablet should be set up befor delivering to the kids .. these programs should be installed before distribution, the tablet should set up in a way that would prvent the kids from accessing certain websights , we are in 2015 the age of tech…Come on…i have my worke tablet with limited access , who knows what these kids are doing and watching in the absents of parents and teachers ,,,we have just open a door for new XXX stars and XXX Video producers ,,, Please Hold Back on the Tablets and and Consult with IT-specialist before Distrbution…IT Stand-point ..
i See new Porn Stars and and more sex tapes in the making ,,wait for the leak videos by Christmas ,,, thats Dominica for you.. we cant get nothing right ,, we always back to front …
Is that what you expect to happen or what you want to happen? It doesn’t matter what security measures they put in place, they can all be subverted. There is no substitute for good parental/adult guidance which is what every child who receives one of these tablets needs. People get so hyper about the “dangers” of the internet/technology when it comes to the ultimate taboo of sex yet children (yes children) have been engaging in sexual activities from an early age in this country since before anyone here knew what the internet was.
Bless up you are a perfect example of something being back to front. Why are you so negative and limited in your scope and thought pattern. By saying that new porn stars are in the making is admitting that our young people are seriously engaged in sexual activities, which is real problem here. Why don’t you mobilize yourself, go out in your communities, the school and be an advocate for abstinence. Help tackle the problem before it gets to porn star level.
Kelvar you need to stop being naive,those tablets should have been blocked from the malicios sights prior to giving them out,its common sense man.
From secondary to tertiary to just secondary alone?….
Not surprise, they probably only said college will get so those 18 and over would give them votes
#notfoolish