A’mari calls for online classes for PEP students

Social media blogger A'mari DJ Mona Lisa is calling on local Internet service providers to provide children who are home because of the COVID-19 threat with free access to the web.

"As our country continues to manage the COVID-19 emergency, Jamaicans need to stay connected - to their families, their workplaces, their schools, and the latest information about the virus - through the Internet. And since there are many households with students [who are at] home because schools and colleges have temporarily closed, there needs to be a switch to online classes because the learning must continue. Jamaican students should not be allowed to fall behind," said A'mari.

She said that thousands of poor Jamaicans don't have Internet service at home.

provide PHONECARDS

"Internet connectivity becomes even more important at this time, and our service providers should be willing to respond in this national emergency," she said.

A'mari has pledged to provide phonecards to young students which will allow them to purchase data to get online access.

She started a drive among members of the Jamaican diaspora to purchase a batch of phonecards which she will give away during her daily podcasts.

These cards will be given to parents of primary school age children who are the most needy.

"PEP has been postponed but this is not a holiday, we need to make a commitment to the learning of our children and be serious about it. We have to step up and help each other," she said.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Education will be providing nutritional support through Nutrition Products Limited to students on the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) for the period that they will be out of school over the next two weeks.

As part of its Education in Emergencies response plans, the ministry, in collaboration with school leaders, teachers, and educational partners, has already provided significant support to enable continued teaching and learning while students are not in school.

This support includes the activation of online, virtual, computer-based teaching, and learning augmented by traditional radio and TV media.