Carib Cement invests $10 million in education support

In advancing its education and technological support, Carib Cement will donate ten laptops to teachers to help in the delivery of online education. 

According to Yogo Castro, general manager at Carib Cement Company Limited,  digital learning has emerged as a necessary resource for students and schools all over the world. For many educational institutes, this is an entirely new way of education that they have had to adapt.

“We understand the challenges posed by COVID-19 and the disruptive effects on the education sector,” Castro said.

“We have been working with our communities to help address health and safety needs of schools as well as ways of improving access to education through technology,” he added.

Online learning is now applicable not just to learn academics but it also extends to learning extracurricular activities for students as well.

According to Klao Bell-Lewis, head of communications, social impact and media strategy at Carib Cement Company Limited, in recent months the demand for online learning has risen significantly, and it will continue doing so in the future.

“We worked with communities to identify most relevant needs. Our hope is for our intervention to have significant transformational effect on families, and will motivate young people to persevere, despite the odds,” Bell-Lewis said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered new ways of learning. All around the world, educational institutions are looking toward online learning platforms to continue with the process of educating students.

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Fayval Williams, in her keynote address said with technology being embedded in every aspect of our daily lives, the ministry wants to ensure that all students are connected and gain the skills they need to operate in a world, that is becoming more and more technology infused.

“Thanks to Carib Cement for making this significant donation to the schools and residents of the Bull Bay and Rockfort Community,” Williams said. “It is a permanent gift to the education sector as we try to live through the pandemic and help our students stay connected in the teaching and learning experience that they so deserve.”

Principal of Donald Quarrie High School, Talbert Weir, said the impact of the gesture is immeasurable because most of the students at the institution do not have access or gadgets for online learning.

“This gesture will not only aid students of the Donald Quarrie High School but also the other recipients. Our students will tell you that having a device makes life that much easier for them.

Due to the pandemic the company had to adjust its CSR budget to have impact in the area most needed and has invested $10 million in education support since 2020.

The company said over $2.3 million has been allocated to health and safety items to schools, and these include sinks to create additional hand washing stations and hand sanitizers and soaps.

Additionally, it said, $2.5 million in school uniforms have been distributed to rural schools, while the company also donated $1 million to the MultiCare YUTE Foundation and $250,000 to expand the delivery of an online Math Learning programme developed by the Rockfort Youth Development Council.