THE JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation has donated 400 tablets, valued at approximately $10 million, to schools and organisations across Jamaica to help students to recover from learning loss due to the interruption of face-to-face classes and the digital divide in online learning, caused by the pandemic.

In an open letter to the Government, UNICEF estimates that Jamaica’s children have lost an estimated 1.3 billion in-class hours over 19 months of physical school closures. The learning loss is staggering, and the most vulnerable children who struggle to access remote (online) education have been hit the hardest, stated UNICEF.

Kim Mair, CEO of the foundation, shared, “This donation of tablets serves to assist our most vulnerable children to recover from the significant learning loss and to help students to remain connected, even though thankfully, face-to-faces classes have resumed.”

She added: “As we help to shape 21st-century learners who are digital natives, we want to ensure that our children have access to the technology and tools to facilitate their growth and development. We hope that technology will remain a part of our educational system and that we build on the opportunities presented during the pandemic in closing the digital divide, by supplementing face-to-face with online methods. This continued integration of technology will better cater to the varying learning styles of students and encourage critical thinking skills and independent learning.”

The provision of tablets is in keeping with the foundation’s commitment to develop youth, through education and empower them to unearth their greatness, and thereby fulfil their goals and dreams.

Speaking at the handover of devices, Patricia Duncan-Sutherland, chairman of the JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation, noted that the occasion honoured the memory of her mother, the late Joan Duncan, whose purpose was to ensure she added value to those she met and to contribute to the betterment of others.

“We are grateful to have the opportunity to add value to your lives…[by] partnering with parents (and other stakeholders) so that our children can have the best chance in life,” she said during the brief ceremony, where some of the recipients were presented with tablets. The recent handover ceremony, which took place at Terra Nova Hotel, was held in partnership with the foundation and Beverley Manley Duncan scholarship organising committee.

Brithney Ramdom, a Dunrobin Primary School student and one of the scholars, in expressing gratitude, said, “I am so happy to have my own device to continue my lessons, which will be done in a hybrid way (at this time),” as previously she was challenged with sharing a tablet with her older sister, resulting in her missing some classes as they alternated use of the device.

In addition to the scholars who received tablets, students drawn from schools and charitable organisations islandwide were also awarded with tablets to support their learning. These recipients included students from Vere Technical High School, Oracabessa High School, Grateful Hill Primary, Godfrey Stewart High, Clarendon College, Lawrence Tavern Primary, Allman Hill Primary & Junior High School, Angel Primary, St Mary College, Liberty High School, St Catherine High, Charlie Smith High School, Old Harbour High, Waterford Primary, Rollington Primary, Jamaica Youth for Christ, Adelphi Primary, Jamaica Association for the Deaf, Portland Charity Fund, and Calvary Baptist Home Work Assistance Programme.

The foundation also provided a one-month data plan to all recipients to facilitate access to the Internet.

The donation is a part of the ‘One Laptop or Tablet Per Child’ initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Education and Youth through its agency, the National Education Trust and Junior Achievement Jamaica.