ST JAMES, Jamaica — Minister of National Security, Dr Horace Chang handed over 30 tablet computers to Cornwall College in Montego Bay, St James on Friday (November 29), as part of efforts to improve e-learning opportunities for students at the all-boys institution.

The tablets, which were funded through the Constituency Development Fund, were purchased at a cost of $1.5 million and will help to boost the capabilities of the school’s Information Technology Department.

Chang said the tablets were donated in an effort to empower students to improve their academic performance, through “high quality instruction”.

He pointed out that technology generates greater interest in learning among male students, adding that increased focus on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) will prevent boys from “dropping out of school and being recruited into gangs”.

“The instruction for boys is a challenge in Jamaica. That’s the area we have a big gap in. The output from the high schools for male students and the entire education system, shows that the boys are falling behind and part of that is the method of instruction, as they don’t like the traditional approach, but they are very attracted to technological stuff,” Chang stated. 

For his part, Principal of Cornwall College, Michael Ellis, said that the tablets will benefit the institution tremendously, as the school seeks to harness the power of technology in the teaching and learning process.

“We are living in the 21st century and I cannot understand… how a school can survive without technology. Technology is critical to what we do and our world today depends so much on [it]. I can assure you that we will use these tablets to enhance the whole matter of teaching and learning at Cornwall,” he said.

He informed that the tablets will be divided among the eight departments at the school and assured that the teachers will use the equipment to engage students in the classroom.

In the meantime, Acting Head of the Information Technology and Business Department at the institution, Audia Cole, expressed gratitude for the computer tablets, noting that it coincides with the school’s thrust to integrate technology in instructional methods.

“We are trying to integrate the use of technology throughout the school so we have started a series of training for the teachers to start utilising different apps that are available online for the improvement of students’ education. Since the students are more techno-savvy we want to utilise what they love,” she stated.