West: Online learning 'no miracle cure'

PUBLIC Administration Minister Allyson West on Tuesday asserted that online learning is not "a miracle cure" for educational challenges caused by the covid19 pandemic. She made the point in response to a matter on the adjournment of the Senate raised by Opposition Senator Wade Mark about online learning.

West said it had been accepted worldwide that "the best way to ensure the learning crisis presented by covid does not become a generational capacity is to suppress the transmission of the virus and plan thoroughly for school reopenings."

As the Education Ministry continues its plans for the phased reopenings of schools, West explained that online learning offered the best possible replacement for face-to-face learning at this time.

Rejecting Mark's claims about students having unequal access to electronic devices, West said, "It is important to note that students without online access were not left without opportunity for teaching and learning." She said her ministry collaborated with the Telecommunications Authority of TT (TATT), Digicel and TSTT "to expand internet connectivity to all locales." West explained that this resulted in internet access being "zero rated to students who access the student learning managment system for the three month period ending July 31, 2021."

According to West, "Based on our continued dialogue, a total of 81 schools, both primary and secondary, have been assessed for wi-fi connections throughout the TT wi-fi service, funded by TATT and these schools will receive internet connections by the planned date of April 12, 2021."

She said the ministry also spoke with foreign stakeholders such as UNESCO, European Union and UNICEF "for the provision of devices for students." West disclosed, "An award has been made for the provision of 350 laptops through funding provided by UNICEF in the amount of US$100,000."

West also said there was an agreement with CAF (the Development Bank of Latin America) and UNICEF for the provision of US$75,000 for the acquisition of 1,000 tablets.

"Tender documents have been prepared to facilitate this procurement exercise."

Through IGovTT, West said an award had been made to a provider for the provision of 20,000 laptops and those should start arriving in TT next month. She also said collaboration between the Education Ministry and the private sector since last August has resulted so far in the donation of 18,122 electronic devices to children nationwide out of a total of 22,422 pledges.

"This has allowed thousands of our children access to the online environment."