NASSAU, The Bahamas – Laurel Lundy, Principal (Acting) at Doris Johnson Senior High School, said the gift of 109 tablets by an anonymous donor to the institution will allow students to have a greater opportunity of achieving academic success.

Jack Thompson, Permanent Secretary, presented the gift to Ms. Lundy on behalf of an anonymous donor through the Office of Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Cornelius A. Smith, at a recent ceremony in the foyer of the school.  

The event was attended by the Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd, Minister of Education; Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary; Julian Anderson, Deputy Director of Education; Laurel Lundy, Principal (Acting); students and other school and Ministry of Education (MOE) officials. Minister Lloyd expressed sincere appreciation to the Governor-General, a former Minister of Education, for his partnership.

“His commitment to education is not unusual; this is not extraordinary, this is standard for him. This is among many other contributions that he has made in technology for the advancement of our children,” said Minister Lloyd.

He asked Mr. Thompson to extend to the Governor General the Ministry’s deeply felt gratitude, sincere appreciation, respect and admiration for his partnership in assisting to deliver access to quality education for Bahamian students.

Minister Lloyd gave an overview of the journey of the MOE following Hurricane Dorian from the launch of its virtual school considered a “signature achievement” in education, to the pandemic when face-to-face instruction ceased, to becoming a smart-school with the need to provide devices for students and teachers who did not have or could not acquire them.

 “We were learning how to teach and learn online while we were teaching and learning online. And we did it!” said Minister Lloyd.

He thanked corporate Bahamas for their kind generosity and assistance in ensuring that no student is left behind and that every student who needs a device has one.

Some 40, 000 devices have now been distributed throughout the MOE and in partnership with corporate Bahamas.  Free Wifi is also available and accessible in New Providence and the Family Islands through Aliv and BTC to enable students through the devices to access courses online.

“We have had to go from pre-K metaphorically, to post graduate in university in 18 months – a program that would ordinarily take you some 12-14 years, we had to do it and I am here proudly to proclaim that we did it,” he added.

A similar exercise took place in November 2020, through the office of the Governor General, at N.G.M. Major High School, Long Island.