The donation has been valued at $20 million.

METRO presented the computers and other information technology equipment to the Ministry of Education at a simple handing-over ceremony at Central Corentyne Secondary Saturday.

Education Minister Henry Jeffrey was on hand to accept the donation from METRO’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Taajnauth Jadunauth, with regional and education officials and head teachers in attendance.

The computers and equipment were installed at Central Corentyne Secondary, Corentyne Comprehensive High and Black Bush Secondary Schools.

The lab at Central Corentyne was built to the tune of $7.8m; that of Corentyne Comprehensive High $6.6m; and Black Bush Secondary, $5.1 million.

Mr. Jadunauth related that Mr. Ron Ramnaryne, owner of METRO, grew up in the community and his family was educated at Central Corentyne Secondary School, so he felt it necessary to make it the pilot project towards the education and development of the country.

Commenting on the rundown state of the institution, Mr. Taajnauth said other infrastructures were built along with the lab by METRO, and he had to escort the Minister prior to the launching, to show him how things can go to naught if it is not maintained.

“We at METRO are happy that we can contribute in some way to the development of education, particularly education that hinges on modern technology, as this is necessary for the development of any education system,” he said.

The Minister of Education, who delivered brief remarks, lauded the administration of Black Bush Secondary School for its community-oriented initiative.

Dr. Jeffrey, noting that the meaning of the term ‘functionally illiterate’ has changed from his school days to present day, pointed out that if students leave school without some handle on information technology, they might well be considered functionally illiterate.

He issued a call for educators to be more creative and use the resources at their disposal to improve education delivery to young Guyanese.