Two Canadian-based Guyanese have lauded the government’s undertaking to advance the use of technology through initiatives like the One Laptop Per Family drive, stating on Monday, April 11th that despite criticism, such moves can only be in the interest of Guyanese.
Business entrepreneurs Allan Zakir and Kris Sammy made these comments at a ceremony in which they donated some 100 laptops to the Education Ministry.
In the spirit of giving back to the country of their birth, the pair has also committed to working with the government to assist in any way possible in future projects. Additionally, the two entrepreneurs have also pledged to donate another 400 laptops to the ministry soon after returning to Canada.
Education Minister Shaik Baksh
“We are saddened by people who seem to oppose initiatives relating to computers and technology. We hope people get together, regardless of the politics, and realise the good of the initiative, because it can encourage people to create commerce at an early age,” Zakir said during the presentation. He explained that Guyana is set to become a pool of information technology talent from which the entire region can benefit. He stated that placing technology in the hands of children will ensure they access all the opportunities that it has to offer in this modern age.
“When we do that and we put together all the other programmes that promote education and help families, then they become aware of the possibilities.”
Meanwhile, Education Minister Shaik Baksh, in receiving the donation with much gratitude, stated that with help from the diaspora and other interest groups, the government can advance the ICT agenda in schools, in order to ensure that children are fully exposed to the opportunities that technology affords.
“We are very happy (that) groups are coming on board with such initiatives, because we need to be prepared for the ICT revolution that has already begun, that Guyana is now experiencing.”
Baksh stated that the ministry and government have been working to improve the use of ICT in schools — one of the best places to start. One such initiative, he said, saw the opening of more than six information technology labs in schools over a very short space of time. He said this is all in keeping with the government’s goal to have schools fully computerised by 2013. However, he added that, working alone, the government cannot achieve this goal. As such, he encouraged interested persons from the diaspora and other groups to “adopt a school” if they feel the need to give back to the country of their birth, and to donate computers to that school in an aim to advance the ICT agenda.
“The government will facilitate the building of the labs, security and other operational things; but we need the computers,” Baksh said. The education minister added that the government is also paying much attention to the training of teachers in the use of computers, so that they would be able to impart their knowledge to the children. “All of this is to ensure that Guyana bridges that digital gap and use technology to advance programmes in the education system,” Baksh said.
