Grenada W.I. This is the first official call for LCD projectors for Primary and Secondary Teachers within the tri-island state of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
The Education system consist of 22 Secondary schools (ages 11 to 16), 104 Primary school ( Private and Government operated) and 52 Primary school along with independent day care centres. There are also three post secondary institutions on the island – of which the Education systems have little involvement in their operations.
During the hurricane Ivan era, back in 2004, the realisation of having multimedia devices in the classrooms was placed in the forefront. However, little funding and investment from local government, international donors and grant agencies did not help bear fruits into this dream. Of course the investment cost for such devices in 2004 would have been about 3.5 times the cost of what these technologies cost today (2010).
I can recall the meeting of all teachers throughout the island in massive workshops – preaching the idea and demonstrating the use of these technologies. I clearly recall moments when a grammar teacher made correction to my speech. She said the word is not "equiptments" but equiptment. I thank her for this and 6 years still recall these events.
The Plan for the education system to utilise technology with the curriculum is a goal that is tied in with the EFA and MDG. Notable the idea of One computer per child would not be a pressing need or an over aching goal of the Education department in Grenada. The administration has realised that it is most imperative to improve the schools' infrastructure, the ability of teacher to be more effective in delivery of the curriculum over the student having to sit with a computer. I need not specify the drawbacks of having a child with a computer, unattended, or even in a fixed classrooms. We have all realise the power of Facebook and its addiction.
However, the need for at least 3 projectors and 3 complementary laptops per school will be dream. This will be compounded with a computer lab of some sort with about 12 to 15 computer systems connected to the Internet for students research, self literacy training or administration of examinations.
While a computer lab with 12 to 15 computers will take a great deal of resource – financial and technical. The need for 3 projectors and 3 laptops can be a near to future achievement.
Lets look at a costing for such a project :
- 22 Secondary school – cost of laptop and projector pair 2000USD.
- 104 Primary school - cost of laptop and projector pair 2000USD.
- 58 Pre-Primary - cost of laptop and projector pair 2000USD.
- Total cost 1.1Million USD (3.09 Million EC)
One can realise that this is not a great cost factor for the government of Grenada. Please note that current student population is about (35,000)33% of the country national Population.
One can easily realise that the cost of the book that are given to students per year ranges in the 4 to 5 million EC dollars range.
Compare this to a one of cost of 3.09 Million EC for equipment and 3 years hardware warranty, can easily be justifies at a financial level. While the benefits for teaching and learning is already well established by teachers. This demand is not new, it needs to be realised.
It is viewed that 1 set of the devices be used for science classes – Biology, chemistry, etc, While 1 pair be used for Mathematics and Language classes and the other pair for any general class. The idea is to place priority for science to have the use of a projector/laptop pair without having to wait on someone else using it. However, the equipment should not be owned by the science persons – and not be used for other reasons, in the schools' settings.
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