PM: Government buying computers for students

Media workers on Tuesday got a glimpse of a laptop computer that the Dr. Ralph Gonsalves administration{{more}} is hoping to buy for every student at or above primary school level in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The computer was displayed two days after Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace said a New Democratic Party (NDP) government will work towards providing each school age child from primary to secondary school with a laptop.

Eustace, speaking at his Party’s convention on Sunday, said this would be a medium term initiative.

It will, he said, be done in partnership with companies in the United Sates and non-profit organizations which specialize in youth education through technology initiative.

Gonsalves said the computer on display was distributed by a company in Portugal and costs US$200 (EC$540).

He said while a US$100 (EC$270) computer was available, it was “not assessed to be as strong and robust” as the more expensive model.

Gonsalves said that before a final decision is made, Ministry of Technology officials will examine the computer, which, he said, has all the “basic capacity”, including Internet connectivity.

Clearly, we are not going to be able to offer a laptop costing $2,000 for every student,” he said, noting that doing so would cost the nation about $70 million.

There are between 30,000 and 35,000 students in primary, secondary and post secondary intuitions here in SVG. (KXC)