Wards at the South Camp Juvenile Remand and Correctional Centre for girls are now fully equipped to attend courses offered in robotics and coding after receiving tablet and laptop donations from e-Learning Jamaica Company Limited (e-LJam) to the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) on Tuesday (October 4).

Andrew Lee, CEO of e-LJam and a strong believer in making technology more accessible, told Our Today: “Once we got involved, we felt obliged that we should provide devices. We handed out 63 laptops and 120 tablets and four projectors to the DCS and it’s really aimed at helping the students here – persons here under the care of the state, to become more digitally literate.”

Lee, who called the day a good occasion, said: “Children who are interested and engaged in what they are studying are expected to have better knowledge retention.”

He added: “Teachers can use apps or trusted online resources to enhance the traditional ways of teaching and keeping students more engaged. With countless online resources, technology can help to improve teaching.”

He continued: “These devices will certainly help them and give them access to resources that they otherwise wouldn’t have access to; we can’t leave our most vulnerable, that is those who are in state care, without access to technology – we have to treat them equally as we do with other students in government school.”

Godiva Golding, CEO and founder of STEAMHouse Network Limited, shared with Our Today: “We’re very excited about the partnership that we now have with the DCS and we are expecting the wards to develop a greater appreciation for fields they may very well go into as well as their own self efficacy and competence building in technical skills.”

Zavia Mayne, minister of state in the Ministry of National Security, said: “We endeavour to provide the same standard of education within the correctional centres that is offered to students in Jamaica’s educational system. The children participate in remedial programmes. Education is one of the best forms of rehabilitation for youths, and it certainly sets the platform for reintegration into society once they are released from these institutions.”

Fayval Williams, minister of education and youth, encouraged the wards in attendance to embrace education and expressed gratitude to e-Learning Jamaica Company Limited for its contribution that will assist the wards in their educational pursuits.

“You are here because you made a mistake, but take the time to think, learn and be educated. Achieve your CSEC [Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) and CAPE (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examiniation) subjects so that, when you exit, you will become the person you want to be,” said Williams.