The contract for the supply of the equipment was signed between the Ministry of Education and the computer firm CCS.

SSRP Director, Dr. Kenneth Hunte, said at the signing that the procurement of the equipment is part of the programme to ensure computer literacy among both students and teachers.

New graduating teachers of CPCE will now become computer literate and have the skills to fit into the curriculum, Hunte explained, adding that the acquiring of the computers is just a beginning and will be expanded in due course.

Under the arrangement, the 12 pilot schools will have four work stations each while CPCE will be equipped with 16 work stations.

Apart from hardware and software, ancillary equipment will be supplied under the contract with CCS, whose Chairman, Mr. Deo Persaud assured that the equipment is the "latest on the market."

Hunte said the SSRP Management Information Systems Unit (MIS) will coordinate and carry out the required training for use of the equipment in the schools and at CPCE.

The SSRP is a US$20M World Bank funded project geared towards the Education Ministry's objective of ensuring universal access to secondary education.

The experiences and findings under the 12 pilot schools will be used in the implementation of universal secondary education in Guyana, officials said. (CHAMANLALL NAIPAUL)