TCI News
TCI public education to embrace ‘digital natives’; children will be allowed to bring their devices to school
#Providenciales, February 26, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – Significant investment is being made and has been made to modernize public schools and libraries in order to properly cater to the amazing ways our children are learning through information technology and its devices.
A policy approval at the Cabinet level last month has now activated the Turks and Caicos Ministry of Education to do its part to ensure students are ready for the world and learning through contemporary techniques.
“It is significant that the Turks and Caicos Islands has one of the highest levels of internet penetration in the Caribbean. The government of the Turks and Caicos Islands is committed to our youth enterprise and acknowledges that the Information and Communications Technology sector is ripe for investment and that improving access to information and the provision of seamless service will be a major enabler across all major policy areas and throughout ministries, departments and agencies,” said Karen Malcolm, Minister of Education & Library Services.
The Turks and Caicos Ministry of Education & Library Services recently spent some time during a press conference explaining the advent of a program which will be rolled out, initially as a pilot; and get this, it will allow children to bring their own devices to school to support their classwork.
“One of the things we’ve locally is the fact that our regional partners, for example the CXC is moving its entire suite of examinations to e-marking and e-learning broadly. In addition, teachers and how they deliver the curriculum is being transformed moving away – and in some cases – far, far, away from the chalk and talk didactic approach to the use of technology,” explained Edgar Howell, Director of Education.
The bottom line is the Turks and Caicos education ministry though ‘Bring Your Own Device to School’ is rapidly reforming to ensure students are not left behind or left out.
“The Digital Natives, our children are growing up in an environment where they seem to be coming out of the womb holding and I-pad or an I-phone or a laptop in their hands and able to use it. And we want to encourage them to be able use those devices to enhance and improve their learning outcomes.”
While the MoEYCLS admits it is unable to provide a device for every child, the program will allow personal items to be brought in and there will be negotiations with the private sector to offer devices at special prices for students.
“We are putting in the necessary security to ensure that when children come onto the school compound with their devices that they are only able to access those sites that would enhance learning. We don’t want them wandering into places that they should not be.”
Online mock examinations and uploading of school-based assessments are already in practice in at least two schools in the Turks and Caicos for CXCs. Distance learning for any level of learner will also be available through these advancements in ICT.
#magneticmedianews
#byodtoschoolintci
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#USA, June 5, 2023 – Kamala Harris, United States Vice President will journey to Nassau Bahamas in June for a
top level meeting with Caribbean leaders, marking the first time she will visit the region since occupying office in 2021.
According to the White House in a statement, the meeting will bring attention to a range of regional issues. Harris and the Caribbean leaders will continue talks on the shared efforts to address the climate crisis, such as promoting climate resilience and adaptation in the region and increasing energy security through clean energy.
Additionally, the statement informed that Harris’ trip “delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advance cooperation with the Caribbean in pursuit of shared prosperity and security, and in recognition of the common bonds and interests between our nations.”
The June 8th meeting builds on and strengthens the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030, which was launched by the Vice President and Caribbean leaders in Los Angeles at the Summit of the Americas as further mentioned by White House Statement.
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, June 5, 2023 – A champion swimmer, marathon runner, Ivy League graduate and world traveler with a huge smile– that is Alexandra Truwit; at only 22 years old, she has a whole life ahead of her, one that may have now been made exponentially harder by the loss of her foot in an incident which continues to be unconfirmed, but reported as a shark attack off the coast of Providenciales.
Magnetic Media learned Truwit, who is a very experienced swimmer, was on a private charter captained by an
employee of Big Blue Collective (not a Big Blue Charter). She was bitten by what eyewitnesses think could have been a Caribbean Reef Shark and her foot below the ankle was completely severed.
It’s a heartbreaking incident exacerbated by the young woman’s obvious love for- and proficiency in- the water.
The Yale website describes Truwit as a Two-time USA Swimming Academic All-American. Featured as a ‘Teen Titan’ in her high school, she was one of ten young people chosen for the school’s magazine.
Truwit, who has a twin brother, cites nail art and baking as her life joys. Already having survived ‘mono’ as a teen, she volunteers as a Special Olympics “hugger” and started a Special Olympics club at her high school.
She was airlifted from the Turks and Caicos on the day of her accident and there have been no updates on her condition so far. Residents in the TCI and the US have expressed via social media their best wishes for the young achiever and must now wait, hoping for the best possible outcome.
One resident said, “So sorry Alexandra you had to encounter such a traumatic experience while on vacation on our beautiful Island. I am praying for a successful surgery and speedy recovery for you, hopefully, the surgeon can work their magic for you.”
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, June 5, 2023 – There are sweeping changes coming to the civil service this year after years of complaints about delays and understaffing.
“For the year 2023/24, the office of the Deputy Governor has a very ambitious public sector transformation centered around improving service delivery and the customer experience.” 
This came from Governors Appointed Member Willin Belliard, as he rose in the budget debates on Thursday May 18 to detail the revamp.
Phase one of E-procurement which will allow for the virtual submission of tenders is to be implemented. Along with that will come E-Jobs, a similar system touted to make job applications virtual, swift and easy.
Implementation of the Human Capital Procurement Program is also on the list of deliverables. Human capital is sorely lacking in the Turks and Caicos across the public and private sectors with hundreds of vacancies sitting open and resignations continuing to pile up.
Public servants will also find it easier to enroll into the all new Public Sector Pension Plan with the advent of a portal to remove the need for paper based applications.
The previously announced pay grading exercise is on the table to be completed and a Contract management unit has now been created to manage the delivery of projects that taxpayers are funding.
Residents of the Turks and Caicos have complained bitterly about the state of the civil service in the country for years. From police records to the treasury, the service is characterized by low staffing, frustrating wait time and long lines.
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