CORAL SPRING, Trelawny — Bemoaning the poor integration of technology in the country’s classrooms, Education Minister Fayval Williams says she would like to see devices created through scientific knowledge being utilised more by educators.

Addressing this year’s Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) education conference at Ocean Coral Spring in Trelawny on Tuesday, Williams shared that while teachers have innovated throughout the novel coronavirus pandemic by learning and utilising the virtual space to create classrooms and engage most students, she was disappointed that several teachers were not utilising tablets provided.

“You can imagine how disappointed I am when I visit some classrooms and I see teachers not integrating the technology in the learning process — and I know technology will help us in education. I don’t see many teachers using their laptops that the JTA fought so hard for you to get,” the minister said, eliciting an outburst of crosstalk among teachers at the conference being held under the theme ‘Sustainable Indication Invocations in Education: retool, renew, reset’.

Some of the teachers pointed out that the distribution process has not been completed. While Williams agreed, she pointed out that almost 7,000 teachers have redeemed their vouchers, which, she claimed, is a lot.

Addressing the issue, JTA President Winston Smith pointed to the need for better classroom infrastructure.

“So, we use our tablets, minister. And I hear you say that you are not seeing the innovation being employed in schools, but minister, to be honest with you, some of the schools have no plugs. They have no electricity. The rooms are not ergonomically suited for effective use of technology. We can’t dim the lights and use a projector because it’s decorative blocks and the sun’s rays keep coming through,” he said.

Launched in May 2018, the Tablets for Teachers Programme forms part of an agreement between the Government and the JTA to provide teachers with tablet computers for their personal use and curriculum support.

On Tuesday, Smith called for the pool of laptop suppliers under the programme, being developed by e-Learning Jamaica Limited, to be expanded to address a yet-to-be-honoured 1,325 vouchers.

Under the initiative, 5,000 public school educators were expected to receive electronic vouchers to purchase laptop computers last December.

“The truth is, minister, those vouchers, the suppliers have no devices to give the teachers. There are limited resources available because when the teachers go, some of them are asked to give up the voucher but still no laptop to be delivered. So we need to expand the pool of suppliers of laptops and bring them across the country because Jamaica is not Kingston and St Andrew,” said Smith.

Meanwhile, Williams said the novel coronavirus has created an opportunity that needs to be seized.

“As the world looks to the future and ways to safely return to normal, in light of the pandemic, we have a unique opportunity to reset and redefine what this normal looks like. For the education sector, this is a chance to take a close look at aspects of the education system that we have taken for granted for too long,” Williams said.

“Increasingly, innovation in education is more than just a buzz word, it is fast becoming a way of learning and teaching for both students and teachers. Innovation in education encourages teachers and students to research, explore and use all the tools to uncover something new,” she added.

She also pointed to the need to find new ways to address violence in schools, arguing that assessment of root causes and intervention plans can be futile unless there is an understanding of the environment in students’ homes and communities.

Williams also pointed to the need for the ministry to get educators in classrooms and teachers’ colleges educated on what trauma-informed teaching is and how trauma can impact learning.

Between April 2021 and March 2022 a total of 12,642 cases of child abuse were reported to the Child Protection and Family Services Agency.

“Add to this the many unreported instances of slapping, beating with an instrument, pinching, and the psychologically aggressive method of quarrelling, shouting, denying food, swearing, cursing and you see the hell from which many of our children come. When these children show up in the classroom, they are on edge. The slightest word can set them off,” said the education minister.

In relation to corporal punishment and psychological punishment meted out to children, Williams disclosed that in collaboration with the Ministry of National Security efforts will be made this year to reach 97,000 parents to do a risk assessment and get those most at risk the appropriate parenting support.

Psychosocial support for teachers is also important for the ministry which is providing and continues to provide support through the Jamaica Teaching Council despite a less than desirable turnout recently, she said.