Tufton

WESTERN BUREAU: For retired educator Albert Reynolds, it was a dream realised at the official opening of a computer laboratory and resource centre at the Black River Primary and Infant School in St Elizabeth on Thursday. He spent most of his teaching years at the institution.

"I never thought this was possible because I retired when we were just coming into the computer age, but it was always a wish for me," Reynolds said.

The $13 million facility, which is fully equipped with 40 new Dell computers, was named the Albert and Carmen Reynolds Computer Lab and Resource Centre in honour of Reynolds and his wife, Carmen. Together, the couple spent more than 70 years in the classroom, and on separate occasions, served as principal.

Reynolds, who served the school for 34 years, told The Gleaner that he was pleased by the school's decision to name the facility in honour of him and his wife.

Chairman of the school board, Locksley White, said he and another board member shared the concept of the computer lab to Member of Parliament for South West St Elizabeth, Dr Christopher Tufton. Less than a year ago, ground was broken for the construction of the centre that will serve the student body and the wider community.

well appreciated

"This computer lab and the equipment will be well appreciated by the principal and staff as a teaching tool as they try to train and prepare our students, not only to pass GSAT and to go on to high school, but also to prepare them for tertiary institutions," White said.

Two teachers will be assigned through the Ministries of Education and Youth and Culture within the next six weeks to teach at the facility.

Dr Tufton, in his address, announced plans to partner with the HEART Trust/NTA to conduct training programmes and certification courses using the facility.

President of the school's parent-teacher association, Lyndon Johnson, urged the community to protect the resources available to them and use the facility to help uplift the community.

information hub

The funds used to construct and equip the facility were made available through the Ministry of Education; Dr Tufton's South West Constituency Development Fund; a $6 million donation from businessman Tony Hart; Jakes' Construction, and the National Commercial Bank Foundation.

Student, Abigail Myers, said the lab opening would bring a new era of learning to the school and act as an information hub. "I believe that the opening of this lab will improve our learning because it will act almost like a library where we can come here and study,' she shared. "Even other members of the community can use it for research, and we can also use it to find more information about any schoolwork that we may not fully understand."

Retired teacher, Carmen Reynolds, cuts the ribbon to signal the official opening of the Albert and Carmen Reynolds Computer Lab and Resource Centre at the Black River Primary and Infant School in St Elizabeth on Thursday. Beside her is her husband, retired teacher, Albert Reynolds.- photo by Tashieka Mair