on the cards for Wales Residents
A new ICT Hub was recently commissioned at the Wales Community Center located close to the Patentia Secondary and Primary Schools. Wi–fi equipment was previously installed at that Center in 2017 by the eGovernment Project Execution Unit, and students from the two nearby schools have since been able to access the internet utilizing their own laptops, tablets, cell phones, while they waited for the community to convert a part of the community center into an ICT hub. Several desktop computers had been installed on the premises in 2012 as part of the old Basic Needs Trust project.
The eGovernment Unit, now absorbed into the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), went ahead last year and repaired every computer before connecting them to the now year-old Wi-fi internet at the community center. Now the young people and adults have free access to the worldwide web via those refurbished computers, as well as their own devices.
Parmesh Bissoondial, a student of Patentia Secondary said, “The ICT Hub will help me because I have work to do online for my (CSEC School-Based Assessment) SBA, and it will help me gain knowledge. I could also download books so I can study, and get past papers so I can practise for the exams. It will come in very handy”. His fellow student, Shivanie Sukdeo, shared his views. She stated, “By opening this Hub in the Wales Community, it will benefit me as a student, (to) do my SBA, my research, my assignments and many other things, so it is very beneficial and I am happy about it”.
Patentia Secondary’s teacher of Information Technology and Economics, Ms. Raelene Phillips, stated that the best thing for her students is the fact that they have internet connectivity in school and after school at the community center. “They can practice what they learned at school. Exams are just around the corner and they will need as much practice as they can get, and (they can) work at their own pace,” she reiterated. She observed that there are families in the Wales community who may not have easy and free access to the internet at home and now they could just walk over to the Community Center.
Ms. Phillips plans to start her own training programme for adults and senior citizens in the community “to teach them how to use the computer so they can see how the internet can benefit them. We know there are some adults who do not want to use the computer because they do not know how, but we are living in the age of technology so it is important for them to know,” she firmly stated. Her plans fit right in with the MOPT’s long-term itinerary that includes computer literacy (basic and intermediate level) training at community centers.
Free Internet in Leguan
One day after the Wales commissioning, the 110th completely functional ICT hub was commissioned on the Essequibo River island of Leguan. This is another milestone on the MOPT journey, providing free internet access for Guyanese in every administrative region. Leguan’s hub was commissioned by Minister Cathy Hughes.
Residents of the community, especially the children, were anxious to get on any of the 15 laptop computers that were donated by Government to the Leguan Community Centre. At the end of the brief commissioning ceremony, the children cut the obligatory ribbon with Minister Hughes then rushed to the computers. Very quickly they found the NCERD website with past examination papers, and the online games they know. (Ministry of Public Telecommunications) (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)
