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Source: Toscana Kindergarten
Students using teacher made classroom resources. |
In 2016 the
Ministry of Education in Jamaica launched the New Standard Curriculum
across primary and secondary schools. This new curriculum incorporates the use
of Information and Communication Technology across all disciplines. However, during the implementation of the curriculum it was evident that there is a wide
disparity with urban students having greater access to technology in comparison
to rural students. In 2022 the Ministry of Education compiled an ICT in
Education Policy which stated that the motivation behind the implementation of
the policy was to improve the overall quality of education (Government of Jamaica Ministry of Education, 2022).
Technology and Education-A Beneficial Arrangement
(Service, 2022)
This statement
takes into consideration the teaching and learning experience as well as
assessment. With this policy in place, it gives precedence to private sector, entrepreneurs
and NGO to enable widespread coverage and accessibility across Jamaica. With
this internet coverage and access to devices in place, teachers are able
utilize learning management systems, incorporate technology in the delivery of
instructions and assess students’ academic performance. Through these
improvements, students have greater access to a wider variety of knowledge
which also enables the development of 21st century skills needed to
function sustainably in our global village.
Student using Technology in Education
To date, there has been remarkable improvement in
access to internet across the island, with government offering free Wi-Fi
access in some communities and town centers, while other communities may pay
for access from the two major companies in Jamaica or small business entrepreneurs.
All schools have access to the government’s learning management system, where school
administrators can input relevant student-data and where students may access
certain assessment examinations and/or their results. Students can access their
virtual classrooms at any time, and from anywhere using their devices. Technology
in Jamaica’s education system has seen great improvement over the past five years,
and we are excited to see the resulting benefits in the near future.
References
Government of Jamaica Ministry of Education. (2022). ICT in Education Policy. Kingston 4 Jamaica: Ministry of Education and Youth.
Service, J. I. (Producer), & JIS (Director). (2022). Technology and Education- A Beneficial Arrangement [Motion Picture]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl-TPKAMhI0
Join the conversation and comment below.
How have you integrated technology in your education?
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