Corporate Barbados continues to support the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training’s (METVT) drive to ensure all students across the primary and secondary school system have access to devices.
CIBC First Caribbean International Bank, in partnership with Canada-based company, Optimus SBR, has donated over $20,000 worth of school supplies. And the financial institution has selected the Springer Memorial Secondary and the St. Martin’s Mangrove Primary Schools as the beneficiaries
Speaking at the presentation ceremony at the Ministry, Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, praised all who have donated to the Ministry’s technology drive, which she said has been successful, to date. She added that the principals of the aforementioned schools must be elated.
Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Senator Dr. Romel Springer, echoed similar sentiments, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic posed several challenges to the education sector.
“This came with its challenges, the biggest of which was having an adequate supply of devices to ensure equitable and quality education for all students within our systems. Despite our best efforts in sourcing and providing students with devices and connectivity, it was recognised that there was still a need for thousands more devices to effectively serve all of our students.
“The Government of Barbados would have launched a tech drive, and friends of Barbados, individuals, and corporate Barbados would have risen to the occasion to supply students [with] devices, so they could be engaged in meaningful learning and we thank them for that,” he said, while thanking the bank.
CIBC’s Director of Corporate Communications, Debra King, said they were pleased to provide the much needed support through their Adopt A Cause charity.
“This initiative was championed by our corporate and investment banking team in Barbados … and the effort was also joined by our international consulting partner, Optimus SBR, which operates out of Canada… We were able to donate a total of $25,775 dollars in equipment and supplies here this morning.”
“We also have another initiative where our decommissioned laptops and desktops across the region are being donated, as they become available, to schools and other organisations that facilitate education and community outreach to allow them to access services online … and that is an initiative that has seen hundreds of devices donated right across the 16 countries in the region where we operate,” Ms. King added.
The donation consisted of 41 sim-enabled tablets with keyboards, headphones and cases, stationery, backpacks and COVID-19 kits, containing face masks, antibacterial wipes, and hand sanitisers. A laptop for a teacher was also among the items handed over today.