Close to 200 students and teachers from schools across the country have benefitted from free SIM cards and 5GB data from the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) as virtual learning continues nationwide.
According to GTT, the donation aims to meet the needs of students and teachers who are unable to connect with each other due to financial constraints.
GTT’s Public Relations Manager, Jasmin Harris said the company is committed to assisting students and teachers with access to internet access where none is available. “We are always grateful for opportunities where we can contribute to benefit of our children’s tomorrow. It is our hope that these students and teachers will capitalise on the monthly 5G contribution from our company,” she said.
Among the schools benefitting are the DeHoop Primary, No. 10 Primary, Karamat Primary, Helena Primary, Huis’T Die, Ren Primary and Charity Secondary schools.
Senior Assistant Master at the Charity Secondary School, Dhirendra Deonarine said the donation by the company has allowed him to connect with his students. “Most of my students are from the Pomeroon area and I am from Charity, so it has really helped us in connecting with each other to push online learning,” he said.
Sharing similar sentiments was Grade Three Assistant Mistress at the Helena Primary School, Indera Jebode, who extended gratitude to the telecommunications company, noting its data donation was well received by some students and teachers at her school.
Meanwhile, Martin Samaroo, a Teacher at the Huis’t Dieren Primary School said he made calls to the telecommunications company for internet connectivity with his students and is grateful for their immediate response.
“GTT has demonstrated that they are a company that cares about the education system in our country from grassroot level. Of the 33 students in my class only 13 could afford internet so this donation will go a long way in ensuring that my class would be savvy with virtual learning,” Samaroo said.
Only recently, GTT signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education to zero-rate several educational websites in support of online learning in Guyana amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
