The Government is committed to preparing students to dominate in the field of technology, says Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Dr. Kasan Troupe.
“We are not only preparing you for Jamaica. We are not only preparing you to transform your social and economic reality. We are preparing you to dominate on the global stage. Your curriculum has been fortified with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) principles, disposition and context for knowledge,” she said.
Dr. Troupe delivered opening remarks on behalf of Portfolio Minister, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, during Friday’s (March 28) Universal Service Fund (USF) ICT Club Conference, at Jamaica College in St. Andrew.
More than 700 high-school students attended the second annual conference, which was held under the theme ‘The Future of Tech Begins with You’.
The conference was designed to inspire and empower participants by offering exposure to current technological trends and a glimpse into career opportunities within the information and communications technology (ICT) sector.
Dr. Troupe shared that the Ministry is continuing its thrust to introduce students to modern technology, advising that more than 5,000 laptops will be distributed to primary schools, and an additional 300 schools will be equipped with broadband Internet by the end of the year.
“You are not just a consumer of technology. What we want you to do is to innovate, to ideate, to create and to dominate. That’s what the future of tech is for Jamaicans,” she said.
She commended USF for building out ICT clubs in schools across Jamaica, underscoring that it provides an enriching environment for students to explore.
“You have a free space in your clubs to experiment, to test, to discuss, to create, to be safe to make errors. In your clubs you learn to lead, you learn to communicate, you learn to problem-solve and that’s what the STEAM agenda is about,” Dr. Troupe said.
For his part, USF Chief Executive Officer, Charlton McFarlane, encouraged students to be bold and courageous and to take full advantage of the opportunities available to them.
“Whether your aspirations lie in development, whether it is in tech, entrepreneurship or engineering, the ICT space is rich with possibilities and we want to make sure that you all have the knowledge and the connections to take full advantage of them,” Mr. McFarlane said.
He added that the USF is dedicated to ensuring that Jamaica’s youngest and brightest minds are equipped with the skills and resources they need to succeed and build a more advanced future.