Oracabessa Primary School, St Mary, now has a new computer lab for the use of its students.
Contributions towards the lab came from the Issa Trust Foundation and Oracabessa Foundation in collaboration with the NCB Foundation, valued at approximately US$ 40,000( J$ 5,400,000).
Eighteen computers, eighteen chairs, a printer and overhead projector were purchased. The lab is primarily for all the students but given that the classes are so big, Principal Gregory Davis said they would have to split in half every time they use it.
The building where the lab is now located was formerly used for the teacher’s lounge. It has now been installed with new counter tops, air conditioning, windows, fans and cabinets.
Among those present at the opening on Friday, September 28, were: Thalia Lyn, Chairman of NCB Foundation; Paul Issa, Chairman for the Issa Trust Foundation; Chris Blackwell, Chairman for the Oracabessa Foundation; Jonathan Gosse, Director for the Oracabessa Foundation; Robert Montague, MP for Western St Mary and Floyd Green, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education.
Mr. Blackwell said that he is happy for the donation because the future is all about computers and most children are expected to be literate in the future world. He said “this was not the milestone of having crossed the finish line but the milestone of having reached the starting point”.
He said he had two major things to get done with the Oracabessa area, and those were to get more people working, to help the environment and for persons to have a positive feedback on what the Oracabessa Foundation is doing.
Mr. Montague said the computers were just a start to what he wanted to happen with the Oracabessa Primary School. He thanked all the sponsors and stated that the Issa Foundation is a St Mary family and they are always investing in the community and not looking for any returns or gains. He also said the school floors that are made of board need upgrading.
Mr Green noted that one entity, the Ministry of Education alone, can’t take on all the needs of an education system. He said the principal showed him parts of the school building that needed urgent repairs and he said he would definitely bring that up to the Ministry.
Gregory Davis noted that 80 laptops were donated at the last graduation ceremony by Mr. Montague. He was also happy for the support that NCB, Issa and the Oracabessa Foundation are giving to the school. He said this true partnership in education was the right and proper thing to do.
The computer lab was handed over at the end of the ceremony by Mr Green, Mr Montague, Mr Blackwell, Mr Issa and Mr Gosse who all participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony.
