MINISTRY OF EDUCATION LAUNCHES ONELERN EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM
Basseterre: St. Kitts, Monday, October 10, 2023: The Ministry of Education demonstrated its desire to hold true to the mandate of transforming the teaching-learning environment within the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis as it launched the OneLern interactive educational platform at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College Poinciana Conference Room on Friday, October 06.
Mr. Satyajit Behera, Senior Director for Fortuna Pix, outlined how the OneLern platform will transform the educational landscape in St. Kitts and Nevis and explained that the platform is customized to meet the specific needs of each country they serve.
“I am very confident that this digital initiative will take the students and teachers of St. Kitts and Nevis to greater heights. We at Fortuna Pix have invested in content that is 100 percent aligned with the curriculum that is followed in the country where we started the project. We followed the CSEC curriculum for the higher secondary grades. We currently also cater to digital interactive textbooks for the primary grades as well. This platform caters to the various stakeholders, be they teachers, students, principals, or officials at the Ministry of Education.”
Describing the platform as a “beautiful learning management system”, Mr. Behera communicated “We [the platform] have so many features, including a library, and lesson delivery which is nothing but lesson plans. This platform and the books within the platform can also be accessed even if there is no internet. This platform also allows teachers to share their own reading materials. This platform also allows teachers to create assignments, give assignments and send graded assignments to the students; the students in return can submit their assignments…”
Minster of Education Hon Dr. Geoffrey Hanley explained the overall cost of the initiative and urged teachers to view the project as an investment in the development and transformation of education rather than just a laptop programme.
“I do not want us to just look at this initiative as a laptop as we did it before, but to spend time analyzing the investment. 4.1 million dollars went into this initiative; not only that, but every year also to make sure that we continue using the device and the platform we [the Ministry of Education] must find millions of dollars again. However, as we try to transform education and invest in our young people, these are the things that are necessary, and the money cannot prevent us [Ministry of Education] from delivering.”
Noting the imperative behind the use of the devices, Minister Hanley charged principals with the task of monitoring the use and care of the devices.
“Principals, the onus is going to be on you as the leaders in your school to ensure that the children take care of the device. You cannot assume they know how to turn on the device; you cannot assume they know when there is a problem what they need to do. Sometimes, when we think they are knowledgeable, they would need more or some coaching. You need to make sure that they are taught.”
Addressing the efficient incorporation of the available technology in the teaching – learning environment the minister expressed, “We must be soldiers and marchers in our schools. We cannot sit in our offices and know what is going on. If we had given our students these devices and teachers are not using them effectively, we would have failed. Do not allow your teachers to rob our nation’s youth of an opportunity that can transform them.”
The Minister thanked Fortuna Pix for their commitment and dedication to the transformation and improvement of the educational landscape within the Federation.
