KINGSTON, July 23 (JIS): Police stations are to be equipped with high-speed Internet as the Government deepens the penetration of broadband service across the island.
The initiative is being undertaken through the Universal Service Fund (USF), which is financed by taxes collected from phone calls coming into the country.
“For the last couple of years, the Government has built out an islandwide broadband network, connecting our schools, libraries, post offices and more recently health centres and hospitals. Now we will be doing police stations,” said Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson.
The State Minister, who was speaking to JIS News at the third annual Edufocal Excellence Awards ceremony held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on July 22, said the purpose of this initiative is to give rise to a more developed society.
“This was done as part of our commitment to ensuring that everyone, everywhere, has access to computer technology and the Internet. All of this is building a digital society for transformation and development,” he said.
The Edufocal Excellence Awards was held to honour the top 10 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) students, who accessed the fun and interactive online Edufocal learning platform to prepare for their examinations.
The students selection were based on “time spent on the platform and how well they did,” said Chief Executive Officer of Edufocal Limited, Gordon Swaby.
Some of the GSAT awardees were also a part of the Government’s Tablets in School pilot project.
According to the Minister of State, “we distributed just under 25,000 tablets to 38 schools and teachers. We are now working out the details to see how we can get tablets in every school in Jamaica.”
Testimonials given by teachers and parents of GSAT and CSEC students praised Edufocal for its ability to produce successful students.
