By: Chaïra Flanders
Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 28, 2020 (ZIZ News): Parents and guardians were given the opportunity to collect tablets for students during the Ministry of Education’s device distribution process which began on Thursday May 28 2020.
The first round of tablet distribution began just around 9 am and continued throughout the day up to 3 pm at the Education Planning Division on Lockhart Street.
The devices being distributed are 10 inch android tablets with accompanying keyboards that will allow students in St. Kitts and Nevis to participate in online learning while at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Director of Education Management Information Systems, (EMIS) Christopher Herbert spoke to ZIZ about the capabilities of the managed devices. He also explained that students will be about to browse on the devices without limitations.
“Students are free to browse to whatever sites they require. However, the complement of software is very specific. The software that’s being installed is being installed is approved by the Ministry of Education. It is indeed a managed device. It’s a loaned device and so the software listing is based on the Ministry of Education’s specifications. The reality is that the management approach that’s being taken is such that if the ministry decides they require more applications installed they can just advise us here at the EMIS department and we can push those applications over the cloud to the devices”, he explained.
Herbert noted that students will soon receive access codes.
Meanwhile, Dr. Debbie Isaac, Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, St. Kitts said high school students are top priority during the distribution process.
“We are starting out with our 5th formers and 4th form right down into the primary school so eventually we will reach to the primary school so all you have to do is listen to hear and be ready to receive your call if you know that your child/ward has indicated that he or she does not possess a device”, the Chief Education Officer explained.
Dr. Isaac also explained that the tablets have been fitted with an anti-theft device that can track the devices.
Distribution will continue for several days until the activity has been completed. Parents/Applicants of Primary School students will also be contacted at the appropriate time. 10 persons are served each half hour. To maintain order, the schedule for device pick up has also been organized school by school.
Parents are asked not to show up at the site unless they have been contacted for pick up. Recipients are required to present proper picture identification at the device pick up station.