The technological infrastructure component of the Programme will ensure that all schools are adequately equipped with information and communication technology, to facilitate the full utilisation of technology as a teaching, learning and administrative tool. Specifically, Programme schools will have teacher multimedia centres in classrooms, as well as PCs and laptops for the staff room. Moreover, at the primary level, classrooms from Classes 1-4 will be equipped with computers, and there will be one computer laboratory for schools with less than 500 students and two laboratories for schools with more than 500 students.
At the secondary level, each classroom for Forms 1-3 will be equipped with 6 computers. Each secondary school will also have specialist subject rooms outfitted with computers and other information and communications technology, as well as a computer laboratory equipped with 30 computers. The types of technology in the Programme include PCs, printers, digital cameras, scanners, plotters, science probes, electronic whiteboards, multimedia projectors and TVs. In addition, standard application software, Education Management Information System (EMIS) software and academic software will be provided under the Programme.
To date, technologies have been delivered and installed at all the Phase 1 schools.
| Primary Phase 1 | Secondary Phase 1 | Private Phase 1 |
| Christ Church Boy's | Alexandra | St. Gabriel's |
| Cuthbert Moore | Combermere | Metropolitan High |
| Deacon's | Ellerslie | |
| Irving Wilson | St. James | |
| Sharon | ||
| South District | ||
| St. Joseph | ||
| St. Mary's | ||
| Westbury |
The delivery and installation of technologies for seven (7) Phase 2 primary schools has been completed. The delivery and installation of the Information and Communications technologies at the four (4) Phase 2B primary schools is in progress.
| Primary Phase 2A | Secondary Phase 2A | Private Phase 2A |
| St. Alban's | Queen's College | Seventh Day Adventist |
| Grazettes | Louis Lynch | St. Cyprian's |
| Mount Tabor | St. Lucy | |
| Pine | Alleyne | |
| St. Bernard's | ||
| St. Paul's | ||
| St. Andrew's | ||
| St. Jude's | ||
| St. Luke's Brighton | ||
| St. Matthew's |
The tender for the supply and installation of technology for the Phase 2 secondary schools is currently in the public domain and it is expected that those schools will receive their full allocation of technology by September 2005.
| Secondary | Private Phase 2 |
| Queen's College | Seventh Day Adventist |
| Louis Lynch | St. Cyprian's |
| St. Lucy | |
| Alleyne | |
| Princess Margaret | |
| Coleridge and Parry |
Software
Microsoft Standard Software
The Ministry of Education has renewed its contractual agreement with Microsoft Corporation for the continued use of Microsoft software in the Phases 1 and 2 Programme schools.
Educational Management Information System
The Ministry is in the process of assessing the needs of the various sections with respect to data collection from schools and reconciling that data with what is currently submitted. In so doing, a comprehensive EMIS will be developed to capture all reporting needs of the Ministry as well as addressing the need for schools to have reliable up-to-date information on staff and students.
Academic Software and Courseware
The tender for the supply and installation of Academic Software and Courseware for the Phase 1 and Phase 2 primary schools and Phase 1 secondary schools has been awarded. The delivery and installation process has been completed at the Phase I schools except for the installation of one software package. Installation of the software has commenced at the Phase 2 primary schools.
Special Needs Education Software
Multikid and MultiMusic software and materials, which are suitable for Special Needs Education, have been provided for the Phase 1 schools. Laureate multimedia packages have also been procured for use in the Phase 1 schools.
NetSchools
One important innovation in the technology offered under the Programme is the NetSchools' pilot project. This innovation aims to promote equity within social ranks, through the provision of specialised laptops to staff and students at schools in Phase I, under the NetSchools' Solution. Under this project, the solution was installed at two primary schools (South District and Sharon) and one secondary school (Alexandra) in Phase 1of the programme.
This Solution provides rugged notebook computers called StudyPros for students and access to an Academic Information System (AIS) for teachers which includes over 24,000 curriculum-correlated web sites. The StudyPros have network connections via infrared ceiling access points. In addition, they allow for remote access to the school network from home, via a telephone line. Teachers, students and parents receive training in the use of the StudyPro computers as part of the project.
With the pilot phase completed, the Ministry will look at the best options for the use of wireless technology in future phases.