With fewer than 300 students, James Garbutt Seventh Day Adventist School is one of the smaller primary schools in the city. Not only smaller, it is also one of the poorer schools. But that hasn't stopped its success as the school proudly boasts that all 21 of its recent standard 6 graduates went on to high school. And to keep James Garbutt on the road to success, their area representative stopped by today.
Keith SwiftReporting,
The computer lab at James Garbutt Primary School on Albert Street got an upgrade today with a donation of 5 fully loaded computers, fans, and a couple bookshelves. The school’s principal is Melba Robinson.
Melba Robinson, Principal James Garbutt School
“We have some computers already that were donated but the more the merrier we say. The children are so eager because they are always there coming into the computer room. We didn’t have enough computers so having these added to what we have before, then we know that we’ll have more children participating; using the computers.”
The donation came courtesy Albert division area representative Mark Espat who says these 5 computers are a small part of his committee’s work with this struggling school.
Hon. Mark Espat, Albert Area Rep.
“This is an important school for our division. We have worked with the management before. We have built a over 3,500 square foot building, we have put in computers, a computer lab, we’ve worked with them to put together their library so there are a lot of things we have done with this school and it provides an outstanding opportunity for our young people to get their primary school education. We share a very good relationship with the management of all the schools in our division. And while today might be a ceremonial handing over, almost on a week to week basis we are in contact with the schools and we provide whatever assistance we can. We have study halls, we have tutorial programs, and we support nutritional programs at the school. And so are committed not just to handing over the computers but to ensuring that they work and to try and work with the school management to resolve any other needs that they may have within the constraints of our budget of course.”
And at least now it appears there will be no constraints or in this case – no digital divide between these students at James Garbutt and their peers.
The principal says they are still in need of internet access and she is appealing for help on that end.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited for the internet by Keith Swift