We aren't ready for tablets
Published:Tuesday | April 30, 2013 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
According to a recently concluded report on education, 37 per cent of students do not complete secondary school.
Furthermore, more than two years ago, a study compiled by the Jamaica Teaching Council highlighted the need for a substitute-teacher programme.
Therefore, if we are truly serious about education, we will pump more money into training programmes for unattached youths and develop a comprehensive substitute-teacher programme which may be found in several preparatory schools. Improving the quality of physical infrastructure in our schools will enhance the learning process. There are too many schools, especially in rural Jamaica, with inadequate infrastructure.
Although Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell may be well intentioned, his decision to provide 10 schools with 30,000 tablets is misguided. This idea will work within the next 30 years when most Jamaicans are computer literate. Instead, the honourable minister should use the funds to build more computer labs, classrooms and train more teachers.
The tablets may become another form of distraction for our students, and many of our teachers are not tech-savvy enough to utilise these devices effectively.
Mr Paulwell should really think about this issue, because we cannot afford his youthful exuberance this time around.
LIPTON MATTHEWS