The Digilearn program is one of the most ambitious flagship projects spearheaded by Digi. It's a partnership with the Ministry of Education to create a Digital Learning platform for high schoolers. The program incorporates the use of individual laptops, tablets, learning software, and a 500 meg internet connection for selected schools.
In July, we told you about the pilot project and today the master service agreement between Digi and the Ministry of Education was signed. The agreement puts the program in operational phase and, today at the Ministry of Education, the outgoing BTL CEO said it's history in the making:
Rochus Schreiber, CEO, BTL
"History is being made and this is one of those moments when history is being made, what we are starting with the Digilearn this phase is going to transform Belize, because we are investing into the future, into the young minds. They are the ones who will create the future. The teachers, principals, the ministry, the private sector - we are just guardians. We are kind of the custodians of the future, but they are the future. They will create whatever comes."
Salome Tillett, Principal, SCA
"It gives the opportunity to take Belize way ahead where we want to go. Our enrolment in secondary school is not very high relative to other countries. So imagine it's not an impossible task to get all our students on board to get them to be happy to come to school to learn and because they are already digital natives, then the challenge is for us to help them take it the next level. You can use technology, but what can you create with the technology?"
Hon. Patrick Faber - Minister of Education
"The principals and the administrators believe that this is something that will draw and they have seen where it has happened in these 9 schools already - draw their attention, keep the children coming to school. I remember Mr. Requena saying children come to school from 7 in the morning when school doesn't begin until 8, because they want to get an early start at the machines and that's a wonderful thing when we can get your children excited in an environment where we've lost their attention pretty much. We need to do whatever we can do to keep their attention and keep them longer on school."
Nestor Vasquez, BTL Chairman
"It's equivalent to a revolution. Historians will recall who was the minister of education, which was the government in power and the people and the teachers and everyone that participated on this occasion today."
On Monday's news we'll tell you more about the program and why DIGI sees it as a worthwhile investment.
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