President Smith: Student Digital Devices Often Needed Costly Repairs

Elena Smith

President Smith also discussed the problems associated with some of the digital tools given to students last year by the Ministry of Education under the past administration. She says many of them malfunctioned and the repairs were expensive.  

Senator Elena Smith, National President, B.N.T.U.

“As we understand, the devices would have been for first and second form students, and when they need to be repaired those had to be taken back, and they had to be sent somewhere in the city for repairs. And then we are understating from some parents who are teachers that some schools have to pay up to two thousand dollars for repairs. And, if you take back the computers and you can’t pay for those repairs you won’t have one the next school year. So that poses a problem for those parents who cannot afford it. So, if you are giving me a device, you are buying these things, but you don’t bring the parts I need to repair these things, it is like what are you bringing? So, I have to go and do the repairs. Parents were saying it would be best if the devices were sold to the students and they pay a monthly fee on that, and the repairs would fall on the parents. You would always have one, or at least try your best to have one. But, if you always have to take it back to the school or at least wait for the company to repair them, it will take some time. So, that has been a concern from some of the parents we have who are teachers, the cost of getting back those devices.”