The laptops, purchased with the federal State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, is part of the PSS One Laptop Per Child Project, and will be distributed to the schools by November for the use of seventh to 12th grade students, Sablan said.
“We decided that the best thing to do for our secondary schools is to allow them access to the world,” the education commissioner said as she thanked the support of all stakeholders including the Board of Education, the governor’s office and Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan.
Board of Education member Herman T. Guerrero said private schools are expected to get a share of the laptops because “we always consider the private schools as part of our partnership in educating all the students in the CNMI.”
He said the program is a great opportunity for the parents who cannot afford to buy laptops for their children who go to middle or high schools.
Acting Gov. Eloy Inos lauded PSS, saying the $2.2 million was appropriately used to benefit the students.
“That’s a good use of the fund and it goes right down to the students,” he said, adding that he was “disappointed” though that he didn’t see any of the recipients during the presentation of the laptops at the storehouse of the PSS school bus department in Lower Base.
PSS students are still on their summer vacation.
Inos urged PSS to take care of the laptops, saying these are tools that will help the students enhance their learning ability. “I hope PSS will utilize this in the most effective way,” he added.
Jonathan Liwag of the PSS network administration said they will start installing the necessary software and basic anti-virus programs in all the laptops.
The laptop is a Dell Latitude 2100 and costs $399.
“Our children needs new technology,” Congressman Sablan said.
“Our prosperity depends on the education of our children,” he added.
