“A new UNC Government will bring back this crucial free laptop programme for Form One students within 90 days of assuming office.” 

This is the promise being made by Opposition Leader, Kamla Persad Bissessar, who says if elected, her party will also consider providing tablets for primary school children “to facilitate the new norm of online learning.”

Persad-Bissessar’s comments come as a school book list, apparently for first formers from the San Juan North Secondary School, was shared on social media on Tuesday, sparking outrage from many who say the demand was unreasonable for parents, especially given the financial impact brought on by COVID-19.

Describing the current government’s abandonment of the laptop program as an action of “sheer spite”, the Opposition Leader said her party, back in 2010-2015, implemented the program “to facilitate the transformation of education in T&T through the use of contemporary instructional strategies and cutting edge Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions.”