MP Karim donates smart TVs to schools

THREE schools in the Chaguanas East constituency were given smart televisions on Monday morning by its MP Fazal Karim to assist with the teaching and learning experiences of both teachers and students.

The donation of 55-inch smart televisions were handed over to principals of Chaguanas North Secondary, Chaguanas South Secondary and Cunupia Secondary at Karim’s office on Rodney Road, Endeavour, Chaguanas.

The televisions will be installed in the audio-visual rooms at each school and according to Karim, it is geared toward broadening and incorporating smart learning techniques.

“Smart televisions are a step towards creating smart schools. Technology is flipping the classroom experience. Classroom sessions must be more engaging, and the content must be re-packaged to appeal to young students who are digital ambassadors,” he said.

He pointed to the use of smart technology in classrooms globally which provides and produces dynamic and interactive audio-visual content, support instant messaging and improves the teacher-student experience, thus enable collaborative learning.

He called on teachers and administrators to embrace new teaching methods, especially through the use of technology, which was made evident during the covid19 pandemic.

“Learning must not be confined to physical buildings. Students must have multiple digital opportunities to learn. We have seen how important technology was during the covid19 lockdown. By exposing our young people to technology through the curriculum it will prepare them for the evolving digital world of work.”

He called for technology to be integrated in the agriculture curriculum to produce technology-related content which could encourage youth involvement in the sector to treat with national food security issues.

The MP also reiterated the need for vocational skills training and urged young people to get enrolled in the vocational skills scholarship programme spearheaded by his constituency in collaboration with UWI's Open Campus.

He said it is important to upskill youth for future employability that would allow them to become more empowered and marketable for the workforce.

“By encouraging our youth to access these courses it will signal a new era of entrepreneurship, especially as many people have been furloughed by the sheer impact of the covid19 pandemic. These courses will empower our youth to develop themselves ad help them become self-sufficient.”

The courses within the scholarship programme that is fully funded are domestic house wiring, electrical installation, bread/cake/pastry making, plumbing, carpentry, welding. Cake decoration and Chinese cooking.

Deadline for applications is July 31 and application forms are at the MP’s office or enquiries can be e-mailed to chageastmpoffice@gmail.com.