Patricia Walters-CEO, The Cable

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 05, 2018 (SKNIS): The Ministry of Education is pursuing plans to upgrade connectivity in public schools throughout St. Kitts, so as to enhance the use of online tools in the classroom.
 
This comes after hundreds of classrooms invested in screen sharing tech, interactive whiteboards, and online resources to help modernise their education. Last week, the ministry finalized a contract with The Cable to provide better internet access in schools. Tom Buchanan, Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Education, shared that all public schools will benefit under this new plan.  
 
Broadband connectivity in primary schools will be upgraded from 6 megabytes per second (Mb/s) download speed to 20 Mb/s. At high schools and tertiary institutions, the broadband speed will be doubled from 20 Mb/s download to 40 Mb/s. The Ministry of Education will also see its broadband bandwidth move upwards from 20 Mb/s download to 40 Mb/s.
 
The upgraded internet speeds will allow teachers to further integrate technology into the teaching and learning process. It will also facilitate the ministry’s roll out of a new software programme across schools that will help with data management and have login information for students and parents to access notices and homework assignments.
 
Mr. Buchanan said that the classroom dynamic has changed dramatically over the years, particularly in more developed countries. He said that St. Kitts and Nevis must keep pace with the trends as the education system continues to prepare students to succeed in a globalized world.
 
The new speeds will be available in schools at the start of the new term in January 2019.