With an in-depth reading of the various threads in relation to this week’s topic: “Working with Communities, Families and Stakeholders”, we have come to validate the effective purpose of schools working with outside organizations.
In looking at the roles of NGOs, we re-affirmed the benefits to be gained. Since the pandemic of 2020, several non-governmental organizations have assisted students in maintaining a presence in the teaching and learning process. Though several schools have discontinued face to face teaching, teachers are still mandated to teach using various online platforms. This has proven to be a challenge for several disadvantage children.
Many NGOs saw the need to assist parents of students who needed devices to access such platforms. Here in Jamaica, many schools were fortunate to reap from the collaboration between Digicel and the Ministry of Education. Since 2004, the Digicel Foundation has been able to assist several schools with funding to improve the educational outcome for inclusive education for persons with disabilities or non disabilities.
They developed teacher training in literacy and numeracy and setup resource centres island wide. These dedicated learning spaces are equipped with computer-based teaching aids, interactive board, latest literacy and numeracy software, all in a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. These centres help to unlock digital learning which has proven to be beneficial during this COVID 19 pandemic.
Though NGOs may have different areas of focus; being health, technology, sports the aim is to be beneficial to all schools. Telecommunication companies such as TELCOK in Kenya that are also actively involved in schools and have done so much since the pandemic. Like TELCOK, Telecommunication Company such as FLOW in Jamaica has expanded its telecommunication services to schools, communities and homes for less fortunate children.
Community Health Care is also a great contribution to schools, when outside agencies partnered with them. This partnership not only fosters good health to the learners but it alleviates the cost to parents who may be having financial constraints. With the inclusion of Community Health Fairs, many students have benefited. Community Health Fairs allow students to have access to specialists from various agencies that offers hearing, vision and dental care with no cost to attendees. In Jamaica, this is a regular practice.
An important point to highlight is that as schools and outside agencies work together they foster lifelong soft skills such as love, empathy, appreciation, kindness and among others.
Simone Campbell-Williams
Nicola Jones
Velma Russell
