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Students get free Ipads at tech. school re-opening

-VISTS is not a reservoir for students and teachers who are on the fringes of the education system – Hon Myron V. Walwyn
The Virgin Islands Schools of Technical Studies (VISTS) officially reopened today October 21, 2014 with much pomp and ceremony. Photo: VINO
Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn presented each student of the school with an IPad free of cost but charged that they be used strictly for school work. Photo: VINO
Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn presented each student of the school with an IPad free of cost but charged that they be used strictly for school work. Photo: VINO
Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn said that the school will not be used to place students who for whatever reason/s are having academic or social difficulties as other programmes have been implemented to help such students. Photo: VINO
Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn said that the school will not be used to place students who for whatever reason/s are having academic or social difficulties as other programmes have been implemented to help such students. Photo: VINO
A section of the audience at this morning's re-launch of VISTS. Photo: VINO
A section of the audience at this morning's re-launch of VISTS. Photo: VINO
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith was among those present to give remarks at the re-opening ceremony. Photo: VINO
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith was among those present to give remarks at the re-opening ceremony. Photo: VINO
BAUGHER’S BAY, Tortola, VI – Earlier today October 21, 2014 the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies (VISTS) re-opened its doors with much pomp and ceremony adding smiles to the faces of students as each of them were given free of cost a brand new IPad, compliments of the government of the Virgin Islands.

This Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn said the device is for the strict purpose of supporting their educational pursuits and to be used in their class lessons. Minister Walwyn told those present at the re-opening ceremony that the government has made a significant investment in the institution in the students.

“…We believe that the time is ripe for us to turn the corner on technical and vocational education in the Virgin Islands and prepare our students and this Territory to benefit from opportunities that would come when we have a skilled labour force.”

He insisted that the institution is a technical high school and not just a trade school as he said there is a strong academic component that complements the technical subjects. “I want to emphasize to help our community understand that this school is not and will not be a reservoir for students or educators that are on the fringes of our education system,” the Minister stressed.

He said that the school will not be used to place students who for whatever reason/s are having academic or social difficulties as other programmes have been implemented to help such students.

“Today the opening of our technical high school demonstrates our commitment to provide the necessary knowledge and skills to ensure that our people can more effectively participate in the development of the Territory,” said honourable Walwyn.

He said that many have suggested that a technical institution should not be a priority for the government and for the people of the Virgin Islands at this time.

“To those persons I ask these questions, do we have an unemployment issue among young people in the Virgin Islands, are students prepared for the available jobs in the economy, is it satisfactory that in our own country our own people particularly our young men are relegated to sitting on the sidewalks while labour is imported to do jobs that our youths can perform if they were adequately prepared? Those are the questions that I would pose,” said Hon Walwyn.

According to Hon Walwyn the Government must take the lead in doing what they deem necessary in the best interest of youths of the Territory. “I say that the best thing that any government can do for its young people is to ensure that they receive a sound education that would enable them to live independent and productive lives where they can also make a contribution to the development of the community,” said Hon Walwyn.

The extensively rehabilitated institution is said that have been added to in most ways and improved in others to be more modernized.

25 Responses to “Students get free Ipads at tech. school re-opening”

  • apple pie (21/10/2014, 17:49) Like (26) Dislike (7) Reply
    Sorry that bow tie must go
    • police (21/10/2014, 19:17) Like (7) Dislike (5) Reply
      I've dresses nice but tall guys never looks good in bow ties maybe like he hired a speech writer he should hire a fashion consultant
    • Pool Has no water (21/10/2014, 19:23) Like (6) Dislike (6) Reply
      it is actually fashionable
      • @ Pool Has no water (21/10/2014, 21:34) Like (7) Dislike (8) Reply
        The issue is not about it being fashionable… of course it is!!! but because of mvw height it does not look good on him, he look much better with the long ties. In fact he has some great normal ties…
    • Outtaplace (22/10/2014, 00:49) Like (11) Dislike (9) Reply
      Who made you a fashion police for MVW? Ever heard of freedom of expression and choice as his fundamental right? Then he is not subject to your trying to dress him. Some of these bloggers out of order and very malicious. We have developed a hate game on our own people and ignoring the true issues surrounding education. Wake up gossipers!
  • sandi (21/10/2014, 18:57) Like (9) Dislike (9) Reply
    Very nice, Good job Minister
  • Not necessary (21/10/2014, 19:53) Like (18) Dislike (25) Reply
    Wish i had an ipad to.... soooo Hon. W how many students in numbers to be exact were given free ipads?Is this what your doing with our tax payers money??How can you guarantee 100% that these will be used for the purpose of strictly education. Some teenagers will just be on porn sites and misuse ipads for facebook etc. How can this make them smarter or learn more??? Really Hon. this is spoiling the children more by spoon feeding them with these forms of technology. What has happened to smart boards and pen books binders and paper. I assume the student will do tests on these ipads.
    • ... (21/10/2014, 22:13) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
      Obviously you were not at the ceremony and toured the facility. Neither are you a technical person in terms of technology to be asking such questions. Let me give u a lil insight, with the use of technology most of your sites listed can be blocked, yes test can be done on the ipads, yes apps can be downloaded to facilitate learning in many subject areas, and each room has a promethean board (more advance smartboard). So since its a technical school they Minister have all the right to equipt the students accordingly we are not in the stone age.
      • IT guy (22/10/2014, 08:48) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
        Most kids used Ipads to play games or download songs and it is very difficult to type documents on such. For some kids who cannot type this can be a challenge for them as well.................
    • Lhe Legend (21/10/2014, 22:16) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
      I applaud the effort of the Minister but the iPad issue; I don’t quite agree with that initiative. The kids should be taught how to properly use a pen first. Here is a link to support my claim why the pen is better for the kids.

      http://www.medicaldaily.com/why-using-pen-and-paper-not-laptops-boosts-memory-writing-notes-helps-recall-concepts-ability-268770
  • oops! (21/10/2014, 20:47) Like (7) Dislike (6) Reply
    I am happy to see a technical vocational school really get going in the Territory!. However, the free iPad GIMMICK reminds me of the former Education Minister. Hope this is not a political stunt being that elections is soon approaching. You break even on political points for this one Myron!
  • ooooo (21/10/2014, 21:14) Like (9) Dislike (4) Reply
    i thought andrew was the only minister of education who was giving out free ipads?... where was the short lady with the bag?... is she being overshadowed in her own district?
  • ooooo (21/10/2014, 21:15) Like (6) Dislike (16) Reply
    ronnie went away on taxpayers money and he even aint had the decency to say that he is back...WOW!
  • idk (21/10/2014, 21:24) Like (6) Dislike (7) Reply
    I am not surprised at these negative comments about the I-pads. Tell
    Me what's wrong with giving the kids free I-pads? These kids are our future. I could see why some of you bloggers brains are in natural.
  • Teacher (21/10/2014, 21:27) Like (18) Dislike (2) Reply
    While I have no problem with students being equipped with tools that will assist their learning, I am alarmed that students are just given iPads without any conditions other than to use it for school work. Perhaps the ministry could let students and parents sign an agreement which makes them liable for the cost of the device if it is damaged; something similar to the yearly book loan scheme rather than have the students own the devices outright. And when students graduate then the device is returned so that the next set of students who enter can benefit from it.
  • kids (21/10/2014, 21:54) Like (8) Dislike (7) Reply
    Come on ppl give the man credit nice going myron
  • hand out (22/10/2014, 06:21) Like (7) Dislike (8) Reply
    First thing the student learns is to live on hand outs! Same old NDP culture. Got it all wrong. We need to teach these kids how to work to add value and earn money to pay for iPad. More smoke. No wonder no one wants to work.
  • simple (22/10/2014, 10:16) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    I applaud Myron's every effort for doing justice to these children by offering them these ipads to further entice their learning, but I don’t know if I agree with the fact that it was GIVEN to them. Unless this was a wrong choice of words... I do not think they should be allowed to leave the campus with them, unless they are required and responsible for replacing them in the event of damage, loss or theft. I think they should be locked in a BIG safe at nights along with any other valuables used to adorn this technical school.
  • Hmmmm (22/10/2014, 11:17) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    How about giving all secondary public school students iPods ? Why only technical school students???
    • Tortola resident (22/10/2014, 21:06) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Especially Anegada that has been left out for many years.... They don't even have a lot of students in the school. come on 20 secondary students but don't forget about the other school myron..
  • Nice (22/10/2014, 19:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. Minister, education needs to be modernized in every school. We need working computers and other technological devices that can adequately prepare us for the future. Teachers have been asking, begging, pleading. Please provide equal opportunities for all students because they all deserve to be prepared for the future.
  • old c*** (22/10/2014, 22:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Free ipads? Is this an election gimmick?
  • Educator (22/10/2014, 22:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hon. Walwyn I think you need to buy new laptops for the teachers to use because the refurbished one's that Hon. Fahie bought for them are not working properly.
  • Release (24/10/2014, 12:22) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    In the BVI a lot of people think that "government" should do everything and those people are too ignorant to understand that government money is their taxes


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