St. Andrew, Jamaica — A quiet revolution unfolded this Labour Day at St Martin de Porres Primary and Infant School as chalkboards gave way to digital screens, thanks to a major tech upliftment backed by three of the island’s leading educational agencies.
In a collaborative push to modernize classroom experiences, the National Education Trust (NET), e-Learning Jamaica, and the CHASE Fund delivered a suite of digital tools to the school—including 21 student tablets and an interactive smartboard. The initiative, part of a broader $10-million modernization programme, spans 13 parishes and targets 15 educational institutions across the primary, infant, high school, and special education spectrum.
The occasion wasn’t just a drop-off—it was a transformation in motion. Labour Day volunteers from each supporting agency joined the school community in a playground repainting effort before officially unveiling the new tech suite.
“This represents a real shift in how our students will interact with learning,” said Education Minister Dana Morris Dixon, who underscored the day’s significance as a marker of the Government’s commitment to reducing educational disparities. “Every school is part of this digital push. We’re not leaving anyone behind.”
Principal Lorraine Campbell-Hartley, moved by the handover, emphasized the impact these tools will have on students who lack access at home. “When they’re here, they now get the exposure they need,” she said. “It aligns perfectly with how the curriculum is evolving—technology is no longer optional.”
Teachers are equally optimistic. Senior educator Edmond Ferguson noted the promise the new tools bring: “This is a long-standing goal for us—to have tech embedded in every classroom. Today, we took a major step forward.”
Though the classroom may still be modest in size, Campbell-Hartley noted the benefits will ripple far and wide. “It changes how we teach, how they learn. It’s a new day for this school.”
