Nestled amid Saint Lucia's lush greenery, the vibrantly colored classrooms of Vide Bouteille Primary School host over 300 young learners from kindergarten to sixth grade. Ten-year-old Ayan skillfully watches real-time scores from a math app on her tablet as they are reflected on the interactive board at the front of the room. She says she's eager to become a veterinarian.
In 2010, telecommunications in the Eastern Caribbean islands suffered from low bandwidth, high prices, and poor service quality due to outdated networks. Schools in Saint Lucia and Grenada had limited internet connections to support up to a thousand students.
Today, countries in this region benefit from strong digital infrastructure built over the past decade. Reliable digital networks connect remote communities, provide access to government services, and link people to markets. In education, they facilitate online learning and offer diverse learning resources.
Increased connectivity and access to online learning tools are transforming schools. In the smart classroom at Vide Bouteille, interactive whiteboards, digital projectors, and collaborative learning apps make math and reading more engaging for kids and streamline more effective learning methods for teachers.
Ms. Melisa Hippolyte, head ICT instructor at Vide Bouteille, is enthusiastic about smart classrooms. “After 13 years teaching, not much impresses me, but this tech has me running to the office and the kids are just as excited," she said.
Through World Bank support for building digital skills, 20 smart classrooms have been equipped in schools across Saint Lucia's eight educational districts. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, 35 teachers are now trained to use these tools, benefiting over 4,500 primary school students—a notable percentage of the island's 180,000 residents.
This is part of the World Bank’s Caribbean Digital Transformation Project which since 2020 has supported efforts to enhance digital access for governments, businesses, and individuals in Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The program focuses on creating a favorable digital environment while modernizing government services.
The school’s principal Ms. Lyrill Arthur-Stanislaus embraces ways to make learning more interactive and personalized through technology integration which prepares students for a future where digital literacy is crucial.
Looking ahead she said: “In a few years I hope our students will ask 'What could happen if? How can technology help me?' I want them to remember their time at Vide Bouteille."
This World Bank program has also supported advanced digital skills training for other young adults around the island with over 700 people trained through classes and camps while progress continues on legislation for fintech among other areas.
"Digital transformation is about more than just upgrading technology; it's about unlocking potential," says Lilia Burunciuc World Bank Director for the Caribbean noting that strides made through this project lay groundwork for inclusive prosperity across the region aiming ultimately towards economic growth job creation improved public services contributing overall development ensuring Ayan classmates have access opening opportunities along way
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