The Ministry of Education (Trinidad) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of St. Lucia to provide laptops to the students of St. Lucia.
Education Minister, Dr. Tim Gopeesingh and St. Lucian Minister of Education Human Resources Development and Labour, Dr Robert K Lewis signed the MoU at the Capital Plaza, Port of Spain.
Through this procurement agreement, Government of Trinidad and Tobago stands to make close to $10 million.
Gopeesingh stated that the entire process had been open and transparent and ensured that the St Lucian Government stands committed to pay for every unit, which are priced at $2,780. The laptops had been purchased through the Central Tenders Board and had been very "open and transparent".
Gopeesingh was also pleased to note that the Government had saved as much as $400 per unit this year for local students, adding that there has been a decrease in cost each year over the four year period since the start of the initiative.
He noted that St Lucia was on board with availing its students of laptops right behind other Caribbean islands such as St Vincent and Barbados. Other countries, such as Russia, Uruguay and presently Argentina have made similar arrangements to equip their students with access to on-hand individual technology.
Gopeesingh assured that part of the arrangement also included technical assistance when and if needed by the St Lucian Government. In fact a team from St Lucia, he said, had met with his technical team recently.
While students here are given the laptops in form one, Lewis noted that his Government would distribute theirs to some 3,300 form four students.
He explained that form four students are preparing for the CSEC examinations and would be most in need of access to the laptops, considering the number of School Based Assessments (SBAs) they are assigned.
Lewis said his Government decided to procure the laptops through Trinidad and Tobago as Trinidad and Tobago as already begun the process for procuring the laptops, as well as the costs per unit would be less when bought in bulk.
He added that while the process was made initially on an annual basis, further discussions between both PMs could mean similar future arrangements.
Lewis expressed hope that the laptops would impact on the lives of the entire family and not just the students receiving them.
"The parents, hopefully, will also make full use of these laptops and not just the students, but the entire family," noted Lewis.
It is expected that the laptops will be distributed to the St Lucian students within the next coming weeks.
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