Internet Access For Students Still A Concern

The Secretary General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) is concerned that children who do not have internet access will continue to be disadvantaged when schools reopen virtually on September 6th. The Ministry of Education indicated on Tuesday that the new school term will begin with virtual classes, and it will look at the vaccine uptake of students to be able to resume physical classes for at least Forms 4 to 6. Speaking during a Caribbean Internet Governance Forum, Rodney Taylor, who recently took up the position at the CTU, said internet connectivity for students is a global problem due to the pandemic. He said in many instances, students are left without an education since they are unable to afford it and believes the issue still exists in this country. Meanwhile, Telecommunications Specialist at the CTU, Nigel Cassimire, recalled that there was an attempt by service providers in early 2020 to increase internet connectivity. The virtual Caribbean Internet Governance Forum is centred on the COVID-19 pandemic and the role it played in responding to the global threat.