In its continued effort to eliminate the digital divide, the Ministry of Education and Youth has inked an agreement with tech giant Microsoft that will see just over 500,000 students and educators in public educational institutions getting access to Microsoft Office 365 licences.

Microsoft Office 365 includes collaboration tools like email, chat- and videoconferencing, document management, as well as the Microsoft Office Suite that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher, Access and other applications.

With the Microsoft Office 365 account, teachers and students will also be able to use the applications online in their web browser or download them on their mobile phones, tablets, or computers for offline use on up to five devices.

The microsoft agreement was processed through Inova Solutions, a leading provider of technology solutions in the Caribbean.

“We are proud to partner with the Ministry of Education and Youth to bring cutting edge technology into the schools and classrooms in Jamaica,” said Jeroen Nederkoorn, territory manager Caribbean for Inova Solutions.

The students and teachers will be sent an email notifying them of the Microsoft Office 365 subscription, which will then prompt them to follow a series of steps to complete the installation and set-up.

Already, 215,438 emails were sent to students and educators at their moeschools.edu.jm email accounts.

Fayval Williams, minister of education and youth, told a virtual meeting with secondary school principals that this is a step in implementing the Technology in Education Policy.

“We are very happy to be collaborating with Microsoft on this project.  This is another step in implementing our Technology in Education Policy. Of significance, those students who are on the cusp of entering the world of work will learn the skills and become competent on applications that are essential in the workplace, making the students more valuable to employers on their entry into the work world,” the minister said.

According to the ministry, the Microsoft Office 365 licences are available to teachers’ colleges, primary and secondary schools and educators in the early childhood sector.

Students and educators are encouraged to access their education ministry emails and activate the licences as soon as they receive the emails.