Sts Peter and Paul Preparatory School in St Andrew is on a renewed drive to equip its computer lab with state-of-the-art computers.

The initiative has been welcomed by Shindaji Deane, a grade-six student who looks forward to using the lab for 45 minutes every Wednesday. Shindaji, who plans to be a doctor, admitted he has only average knowledge of computers and plans to improve his competence.

"I find computers to be useful for research assignments and I enjoy surfing the Internet, as well as sending emails to friends and relatives," he declared.

Despite the challenges school principal Sister Shirley Chung faces in sourcing computers to expand the scope of the computer lab, she is undaunted in her efforts.

"Most persons believe this school is a wealthy one and, as a result, often conclude that we are not in need," Chung revealed. "But, in fact, we have real needs in terms of computers and other equipment. Most of our original computers are now obsolete."

Jnbs donation

She said six new computers were donated in May, adding that she was grateful for the response from the Jamaica National Building Society, whose recent computer donation brings the new equipment to seven.

"Ideally, we hope to have 25 computers in all, so that each child can benefit more from practical use during lab sessions," Chung stated.

The principal of the 45-year-old school pointed out that, because of increased cost, the financial resources of the institution were tightly stretched to meet administrative and other costs. This, she said, impacts on the school's budget, which cannot meet the cost to purchase new computers.