Last week, Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly called on the business community to step in and assist by providing laptops or devices for pupils to be able to participate in virtual teaching.
Now, some business leaders are calling on the Government to remove taxes and duties on these items to allow them to purchase them at a more affordable cost.
Gadsby-Dolly made the call to corporate Trinidad and Tobago during a news conference last week, where she detailed plans for the virtual reopening of schools.
There, she noted that of approximately 225,000 pupils across the education system, some 65,000 did not have access to devices or Internet to be able to take advantage of the new system of virtual teaching brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
She also said then that the Government would provide devices to some pupils but she also urged the business community to get involved.
The ministry made good on its promise to provide some devices on Thursday by delivering 168 Lenovo laptops.
The laptops were delivered during a brief hand-over ceremony at the ministry’s head office in Port of Spain.
Seventy of the devices were given for use by Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) teachers while 98 laptops were made available to public special schools for use by children with special educational needs.
The ministry said the devices form part of its thrust toward ensuring all learners have access to education in this ‘new normal’ brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“As lessons, timetables and resources are prepared within this week, the ministry continues to champion the cause for teachers and students who may not have access to devices or connectivity,” the ministry stated.
The ministry added that it is in discussions with more than 15 corporate entities on the matter.
“The distribution of devices is being done in tandem with the Adopt-A-School Initiative, where over 15 corporate entities and NGOs within Trinidad and Tobago are in discussions with the MoE (Ministry of Education) to contribute to the development of the nation’s children through sponsorship of digital devices and internet connectivity,” it said.
Waive duties
Contacted on Thursday, president of the San Juan Business Association (SJBA), Vivek Charran, said the association intends to assist and believes it is a good initiative.
However, he said some details must be worked out.
“We obviously do not manufacture any computer devices down here. We do not manufacture tablets or laptops. Therefore it will attract a certain amount of VAT and duties.
“Some of them are a bit less but a helpful thing would be if the Government addresses that by saying if you are purchasing laptops to be given to schools, or to be given for that particular purpose, that VAT or duties will be waived. It will become cheaper and therefore more affordable for people to access,” he said.
Charran pointed to the prices of laptops and other electronic devices on online shopping sites like Amazon and compared them to the prices of the same devices in Trinidad.
“Things could get very, very expensive, very quickly,” he noted.
“It is about getting value for money. That is the most important thing here because we are in a Covid situation where commercial activity and people’s earning potential is not the same as it used to be.”
He said the ministry must also indicate the minimum requirements for the devices.
“It would be helpful if they would give a minimum requirement. Everybody thinks that the same device is appropriate for every age child or every class,” he said.
However, he said providing young children with laptops may not be the best idea as they may not be able to properly use it or take care of it.
Charran lauded the ministry for pushing to have schools reopened in some form.
“Because what we have at stake here is almost an entire generation of children who have missed a significant portion of their schooling. So I commend the ministry for saying let’s get back to schooling,” he said.
Concessions required
Supermarkets Association (SATT) president Rajiv Diptee expressed similar sentiments, saying the Government should make concessions for businesses who want to lend a hand and ensure they can import laptops and devices at the most affordable prices.
He said SATT has had discussions on the issue.
“We have explored the idea of it but what we would like to see from the Government is the concessions to bring in these machines so it is at the most affordable cost.
“If you are looking to put laptops in the hands of close to 65,000 students I think we need to make it very effective to the business community with the concessions that apply. And then you will see more and more people coming forward. If we can do a bulk order with those things (taxes) exempted, that would be ideal,” he said.
Diptee however noted that SATT has been aiding in other areas including through its food drive for frontline healthcare workers.
SATT has provided meals for the entire staff of the Couva and Caura hospitals in recent months and plans to restart this initiative this month.
“That will go on for a period of a month to two months. We are already helping in that regard,” Diptee noted.
Define the needs
Also speaking with the Express on Thursday, president of the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA), Gregory Aboud, said his association intends to reach out to schools in the Port of Spain area to determine what needs may exist before deciding how best DOMA can help.
“We have noted the minister’s remarks regarding the need for personal devices to aid in online schooling and we can readily understand the difficulty many children will have in accessing such devices,” he said.
“What is missing from the equation is a verifiable account of what needs really exist. Many children already have wireless devices for their own personal use and for their entertainment...
“We believe that the system of distribution of such devices needs to be handled by the schools themselves.
“While we want to be of help, we don’t want to be duplicating devices to kids that already have them which is why we really feel that the schools and the teaching staff at the schools are in a position to provide us with valuable information about where the need really lingers.
“This is as great a challenge as providing the devices — to make sure that if we provide the devices, they will end up in the right hands,” he said.
Aboud said Internet connectivity is also a big issue that needs to be addressed even before devices are provided.
“The device is useless without Internet. That is a need that must be addressed. We do have providers in the country whose business it is to provide Internet service. We are willing to partner but obviously the providers of such services will be in a better position to provide that access,” he added.
As the discussion continues about provision of devices, one business has already stepped in to offer assistance in the form of access to computers and Internet to primary and secondary school pupils.
S&S Persad Supermarket planned to launch its “back to school” initiative yesterday, aimed at assisting pupils in Rio Claro, Mayaro and environs.
Through this initiative, the supermarket is offering free computer and Internet usage and free printing services for pupils, by appointment.
Pupils desirous of using this service can contact the supermarket at 219-7309 or 226-4777.
Persons or organisations interested in donating devices to pupils may contact the Ministry of Education at 688-1911 or 622-2181 ext. 1429 and 1426 or by e-mail at adoptaschool@moegov.tt.
Pupils without devices can view educational programmes on television. The ministry said Channel 4 will provide educational content daily from 8 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. The programming will cover Mathematics, English Language, Science and Music. Educational programming will also be aired on CCN TV6.
