Phones and tablets are not a child’s enemy, says T&T’s top Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) student Saiesh Rampersad.
He believes the curtailing of technology is not the answer to achieving academic success.
Rampersad was speaking at the National Parents Teacher’s Association leadership symposium held at the Pleasantville Secondary School on Saturday.
The student, who attended the Gandhi Memorial Vedic School (GMVS) in Aranguez, said phones and tablets helped to broaden his mind and, if used effectively, can contribute to a child’s development. He is now in Form One at Presentation College, Chaguanas.
“The type of world we live in today does not make it easy for children. We have smart television, smartphone and tablets. I was never denied and I do not believe that the elimination of these types of technology is the answer. Technology itself can open a child’s mind to different experiences and prospects if used properly. The question is who is responsible for monitoring and regulating the use of these items?” Rampersad asked.
Saying he hoped the question could be addressed in the leadership symposium. Rampersad said if given the opportunity, he would have spent all day playing on his phone and tablet.
However, he said his parents—Dr Ramchand Rampersad and Rhonda Rampersad—monitored his usage of technology.
“My parents watched movies and played games with us so they always had control over how the technology was used. They did not present technology as an enemy but they used it. This is not to say they did not hide the tablets and phones from us regularly. He said taking away the technology was used as an incentive to get him to improve on his performance.
Rampersad said he was involved in extra-curricular activities, playing the tabla and the piano. He said his parents always ensured that his school projects were completed and his homework was done.
He said he always loved to read and even when he was in his mother’s womb, she read to him.
“Reading expands your vocabulary, improves spelling and gives you great ideas to write about,” Rampersad added.
He said it was a known fact that his father wrote SEA books and he was used to test the effectiveness of the books. However, while some may say he had an unfair advantage because of this, his father was generous enough to supply all schools and students with the textbooks so that everyone had access to them.
Rampersad also said his achievement of attaining a perfect score in the exam was not only his success but the success of everyone who contributed to his development.
He also said preparation for SEA does not begin in Standard Five. He said all aspects of the exam must be covered by the end of Standard Four and the remaining time in Standard Five should be used to improve on weak points.
Rampersad was given a smartphone for his success in the examination.