The Antigua & Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute (ABHTI) is the most recent recipient of goodwill in the form of 180 laptops, 15 access points and two servers, which will facilitate the delivery of instruction to students.
The devices were donated by the Mill Reef Club and the Rotary Club of Antigua (RCA) in collaboration with the Belleview Breakfast Rotary Club of Washington State.
“With the changing landscape of educational instruction from primarily face-to-face to blended and virtual instruction, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many of the nation’s students have had difficulty gaining access to devices needed to facilitate the online/blended learning process, including those at the ABHTI,” a release from the institute said.
During the handing over ceremony at the ABHTI on January 12, Executive Director Ruthlyn Matthias, said that “the very things needed to support our students were the very things we were not able to secure and after talks with the Mill Reef Club we are here and are very thrilled to know that the collaborative effort between the three agencies mentioned have led to this noteworthy donation that will benefit our students”.
She also noted that most students utilised smartphones, which was not always the most efficient device on which to access the virtual classroom and complete assignments. She assured that the devices would be put to good use.
“Students will be encouraged because they will now be able to utilise a laptop which is much better than a smartphone in allowing them to access google classroom, complete and submit assignments as the need arises,” she said.”
During the presentation, President of the RCA Curtis Silston noted that the initiative is more important than before, considering the current educational climate due to the pandemic. He added that the club “has given in excess of $2 million as it relates to the donations made through the project”.
Meanwhile, the Past President of the RCA and Coordinator of the Computer for the World and Sewing Project, Cordell Josiah said that, to date, the Computer for the World Project has donated “over 3,000 computers and hundreds of printers to more than 60 schools in Antigua and Barbuda”.