The Ministry of Education on Tuesday (March 25) launched the SDG Joint Programme on Digital Transformation for Education in association with United Nations (UN) partners to build a resilient education sector.

While speaking at the launch event, portfolio minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon lauded UN partners for continuing to play an integral role in supporting Jamaica.

“The reason I had to be here really started kind of last year. Where it really hit me was after we had Hurricane Beryl, which really destroyed many of our schools and many of the livelihoods of our farmers across our country… I remember helping to coordinate some of the resources that were coming into Jamaica, and the UN was integral to it. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) was there, the World Food Programme (WFP)… when we were trying to figure out how to get as much assistance to Jamaica,” she said.

Dixon highlighted that these partners were aggressive towards ensuring that the vulnerable population across the island receive aid.

“They were pushing, pushing… saying we need to move faster. We need to get the resources to the Jamaican children and the Jamaican people and to the farmers. That was the UN, and I cannot have them doing an event and not come, because that was them helping us in our time of need.”

Additionally, she expressed that the UN is now helping Jamaica in terms of its future, while indicating that the UN is not just something that individuals see or hear about but is a very active organisation supporting states in need.

“It’s not a fictitious entity. It’s actually a real entity that cares about Jamaica. And you know someone cares when they’re there in your hour of need. And I saw that last year with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF),” she continued.

Dixon further highlighted that it’s a pleasure to be talking about how these partners are helping to modernise the education sector and improve access to quality learning experiences in the country.

“This joint programme on digital transformation for education will go a long way in supporting our wider thrust to ensure that the education sector is resilient, agile and providing the support our students and teachers need to succeed. Especially as we continue to see a shift globally in how technology is becoming integrated into education sectors across the world.

“The ministry will be working with the UN and several of its agencies as we look at how we are able to really bring technology into our classrooms. And this isn’t a little bit of money. It’s a lot of money. This is US $3.7 million. That’s huge funding, and the funding from this joint project will augment efforts to strengthen several entry points of the education system,” Dixon added.

She also expressed that this programme is very data intensive and will be a key driver in implementing policies. “I know many times when we talk about data it doesn’t sound sexy or exciting, but it is very important, extremely important. If we’re going to make key decisions in the education sector and also have real policies that can have an impact. You can’t make policies if you don’t have the information. It makes absolutely no sense. So the joint programme on digital transformation for education will significantly increase the ministry’s ability to make informed decisions. Including on matters related to resource allocation as well as other student support strategies linked to centralised data,” she said.

Dixon also emphasised she is a big supporter of integrating technology into all sectors of life, especially the education sector, while indicating that if used strategically and appropriately, technology can be an enabler in education.

“We have seen firsthand the enthusiasm of our students with the implementation of smart boards and tablets in many classrooms across the island. Our classrooms are changing, and so must our staff rooms and our offices change at the same time. So, UNICEF has been assisting us quite a bit in relation to our teachers and the use of technology.

“The EU’s programme, which is just a brilliant digital Jamaica programme, has been aimed at helping our educators to be able to use that technology in the classroom. It’s one thing to put a smart board in and to give students tablets. We have to be able to use it, and that’s what the funding has helped us to do through the EU,” she added.