Boost for online learning . . . Capital Kids donates 160 tablets with more to come

Ongoing attempts to reduce inequities in access to technology for school-aged students received a massive boost on Friday with a donation of 160 tablets to the Ministry of Education from the Capital Kids Project.

The initiative of the Capital Media HD radio station was made possible by a donation from the Amerone Charitable Trust to the tune of $200,000.

“When I became aware that the honourable minister was looking for assistance with the tablets, this was a marriage made in heaven and this gives us immense joy, because our slogan at Capital Media is ‘more than radio’, it’s a lifestyle,” said Capital Media Chairman Vic Fernandes.

“These 160 tablets are not the end. There are more to come as well. We have invested $100,000 in this project on behalf of Capital Kids project,” he added.

The project is also being carried out in honour of popular broadcaster and education enthusiast, Veoma Ali, who passed away last April at age 39.

Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw indicated that this donation and others from corporate Barbados are extremely timely as the country’s children attempt to access online learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The tablets that you have donated will go a long way in allowing us to meet our targets. We are not fully where we want to be, but we will get there because we know that more are coming,” said Bradshaw.

“As we plan for the next school year in September, I think that devices such as these are things that corporate Barbados can provide to every child. Technology is the engine for us to energize and transform the Barbadian economy, and it is important that our children have access to these devices so they can learn,” she added. kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb