Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer
Rodney Davis president and CEO of Cable & Wireless Jamaica in (background) watches children from different schools browsing the web at the Hilton Kingston hotel in New Kingston yesterday at the handing over of computers to 11 schools by the company in conjunction with United States-based Technology 4 Teens.

Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter

ONE HUNDRED and eight schools islandwide will each receive 10 computers free, thanks to a partnership between the Cable & Wireless Foundation and United States-based charity Technology 4 Teens.

The first 11 schools received the equipment at a handover ceremony held at the Hilton Kingston hotel in New Kingston yesterday. Cable & Wireless contributed US$150,000 towards the computers with Technology 4 Teens sourcing them in the U.S.

Speaking at the event Cable & Wireless President and CEO Rodney Davis said that the information communication technology (ICT) situation in Jamaica remained one of the 'haves and the have nots', a "digital divide" that needed to be crossed.

A great equaliser

"There is no question that ICT can become one of the greatest equalisers of opportunity since the first textbook was distributed in our nation's schools. But a single computer in the principal's office won't allow kids to benefit from these learning technologies. We need to get the technology to where the kids learn - in the classroom," said Mr. Davis.

He reminded schools that they could contact the foundation to receive free Internet services from C&W. Some 400 are already receiving the service.

Yallahs Primary was among the 11 schools yesterday, and previously had just two computers with high-speed Internet access, located in the staff room but devoted to students, said principal Jear Carr.

"The demand is great so we really appreciate this gesture, it comes just at the right time," said Mrs. Carr. "The pupils have a great interest both in using them for games and research."

But with over 1,400 students the school ideally needs 30 computers, added vice-principal Maurice Bogle.

The donation was "sweet" said sixth-grader Jamie McCarthy who was one of the students surfing the web at the event.

"Well I don't use the Internet at school at the moment, but I do have it at home," said fellow sixth-grader Chrissan Thompson whose online favourite is the social networking website MySpace. However her mother says Chrissan is too young yet to have her own MySpace page, although she does rely on her daughter to check her e-mail.

ross.sheil@gleanerjm.com