With the donation of two Robotic Kits from the Ministry of Public Telecommunications, the St. Pius Primary School in West La Penitence Georgetown will be joining the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) hubs in training for the 2019 International Youth Robotics pre-qualifier competition, which will be hosted in Guyana.
While STEM Guyana will be hosting the 2019 International Youth Robotics pre-qualifiers competition, the ICT hub at St. Pius Primary school will also be used as an after school programme for the surrounding community.
Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes visited the school on Wednesday along with the co-founder for STEM Guyana, Karen Abrams.
The Minister said they are ensuring that STEM training is being done at as many ICT hubs as possible in order for young people in Guyana to be ready for the new world of technology.
“We want to give you all the same opportunities that any child in any other part of the world would have and we can’t do this alone and that’s where our partnership with STEM Guyana and also the teachers in this school, but most importantly also the Department of Youth who all teamed up with us,” the Minister said.
The Robotic Kits teach children innovative ways to strengthen their skills in Mathematics and Science with collaborative critical thinking.
Minister Hughes said, “Right now we have earmarked 35 hubs where students in the area and students at school close to where these hubs are, you will be able to come and get some training absolutely free of cost.”
Minister Hughes asked that teachers, parents and students take advantage of the opportunities being offered.
The Minister told the students, “The jobs that are going to be available in the future, you’re going to need all these skills and the wonderful thing is that you are going to enjoy it…start thinking as to how you are going to be able to make a living from this when you get older.”
The St. Pius Primary ICT hub will accommodate 15 students from all levels. The programme started at the school on Tuesday and already saw a number of eager students.
The ICT teacher at the school, Mark Alleyne said a number of software applications from STEM Guyana are also available to teach the students.
