Garden Hill gets computer lab

The major project of the Rotary Club of Kingston to install a computer lab and construct a covered walkway at the Garden Hill Primary School in West Rural St Catherine came at a time when the school needed certain amenities to meet the Ministry of Education’s National Standards Curriculum requirements.

The club spent a total of $2.5 million to paint and equip an existing space for a computer lab and donated eight computers for both students and teachers, together with a printer and furniture to facilitate the preparation of homework and lessons. In addition, a covered walkway has been constructed leading from the main school building to the bathrooms.

An official hand-over ceremony was held at the school on Friday, November 30.

“In the past, students heading to the bathrooms were exposed to rain and sun. So, we are very grateful to the Rotary Club of Kingston for responding to our needs in this way. Also, without the computers, our students were unable to complete their projects because they do not have Internet access at home,” said Shakira Hansel-Hudson, principal of the Garden Hill Primary School.

GREAT ASSISTANCE

She said that most of the teachers on staff are computerliterate and will be able to assist students in the use of the computers. In addition, HanselHudson said the computers will also greatly assist teachers in carrying out research in the preparation of their lessons.

President of the Rotary Club of Kingston Linval Freeman said that Garden Hill Primary was selected because it was his alma mater and presented an opportunity for him to give back to the community through Rotary.

“Unfortunately, schools in deep-rural Jamaica oftentimes do not benefit from donations from service clubs because these organisations tend to concentrate their efforts in the urban areas,” Freeman said.

“The Garden Hill Primary School is located in a poor farming community where the parents cannot afford to contribute in a significant way to the institution, so I thought I would provide service above self, along with members of the Rotary Club of Kingston, to assist in making the lives of the students and teachers a little better,” said Freeman.