THE Digicel Foundation has officially opened a state-of-the-art smart lab at Santa Cruz Primary School in St Elizabeth.

This innovative learning space is designed to bridge the digital divide and expose students to 21st-century skills and job opportunities.

Charmaine Daniels, CEO of the Digicel Foundation, shared that while Santa Cruz Primary is the first school in St Elizabeth to receive a smart lab, it will not be the last.

“In a few days from now we will be right down the road at the Black River Primary School opening another smart lab and ensuring that even more students in St Elizabeth have access to cutting-edge technology and digital learning tools,” said Daniels.

She shared that the lab will also serve as a hub for the foundation’s recently launched Safer Internet Together (SIT) programme, which aims to promote online safety and digital citizenship.

“As we introduce advanced digital technology in schools, it’s essential that we also educate our youths on how to use it safely and responsibly. That’s why we’ve proudly launched our SIT programme, a year-long initiative which will empower students, parents, and educators to navigate the online world confidently,” added Daniels.

Senior education officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth, Skills and Information’s Region 5, Nevadeene Gallimore Miller, urged parents to continue learning beyond the smart lab.

“We want parents to assist us in ensuring that ICT [information and communication technology] penetration does not stop at the school gate. We want when your children come home with the information and the ideas that they would have been engaged in at school, that you support them,” said Gallimore Miller.

By the end of March 2025 there will be 21 smart labs established by Digicel Foundation.

Each lab costs approximately US$70,000 and is equipped with 12 laptops, 12 tablets, a printer, a smart door lock, and an interactive mimio-compatible smart board.

Since inception, Digicel Foundation has spent over US$2.5 million on projects in St Elizabeth. In 2023 the foundation opened the Santa Cruz Special Education Centre, a space dedicated to providing quality education and support for students with special needs in the parish.