International Foundation Donates Laptops to Bermuda Public Schools
The Ministry of Education is pleased to announce a generous donation of EUR 500,000 from the Hasso Plattner Foundation in Germany. The donation is to be used to purchase laptops for students at the Primary level of the Bermuda Public School System (BPSS).
Plan 2022, Bermuda’s Strategic Plan for Public School Education Priority # 4 focuses on modernizing the learning environment to ensure that Bermuda’s youth have the cutting-edge technological tools so that they are prepared to participate in a global economy. The donation from Hasso Platner supports this priority and Plan 2022 adaptive Strategy 4.16 which calls for the Ministry and Department of Education to:
Partner with the private sector and donors to provide meaningful support to schools for
instructional resources, technology and other programmes.
Minister of Education, the Hon. Diallo Rabain, JP, MP met Mr. Hasso Plattner, a German businessman in 2019. During that meeting a discussion ensued about the Foundation and the potential of a donation of devices to the Bermuda Public School System (BPSS).
When the onset of COVID19 resulted in the closure of all public school buildings in March 2020, it became evident that several students were without devices needed for remote learning.
In April 2020, Minister Rabain reached out to the Hasso Plattner Foundation to inquire whether the Foundation would be able to donate funds towards the cost of laptops so that every primary school student could have access to a laptop to support the new normal of remote learning.
Upon receipt of this significant donation, Minister Rabain stated, “I am delighted to have forged a partnership with the Hasso Plattner Foundation. It is important for the Bermuda Public School System to encourage and foster more partnerships of this kind, both locally and internationally. The success of our students, and ultimately the public school system, is intricately linked to the future success of Bermuda. I thank Mr. Hasso Plattner, the Hasso Plattner Foundation and all local corporate donors who have helped our public schools during these difficult times. Their generosity is truly appreciated by the Ministry, Department, students, parents and staff as their contributions will help our students to realize their potential as we make gains with modernizing the learning environment.”
Minister Rabain added, “Once converted, the funds received from the Hasso Platner Foundation will amount to over $580,000. This will allow for the purchase of around 1600 laptops, approximately 73 percent of the laptops needed for students at the Primary level. With the increased focus and dependency on technology in society today, and as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, it is not only important, but also a necessity to ensure all students have equal access to technology”.
Located in Potsdam, Germany, the Hasso Plattner Foundation was established in 2015 after Mr. Hasso Plattner signed the Giving Pledge initiated by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet. The foundation aims to “accelerate the adoption of digital technologies through science and education, improve access to art and culture, and support environmental conservation.” Mr. Hasso Plattner is one of the founders of SAP, an enterprise software company and founder of the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Engineering.
Partner with the private sector and donors to provide meaningful support to schools for
instructional resources, technology and other programmes.
Minister of Education, the Hon. Diallo Rabain, JP, MP met Mr. Hasso Plattner, a German businessman in 2019. During that meeting a discussion ensued about the Foundation and the potential of a donation of devices to the Bermuda Public School System (BPSS).
When the onset of COVID19 resulted in the closure of all public school buildings in March 2020, it became evident that several students were without devices needed for remote learning.
In April 2020, Minister Rabain reached out to the Hasso Plattner Foundation to inquire whether the Foundation would be able to donate funds towards the cost of laptops so that every primary school student could have access to a laptop to support the new normal of remote learning.
Upon receipt of this significant donation, Minister Rabain stated, “I am delighted to have forged a partnership with the Hasso Plattner Foundation. It is important for the Bermuda Public School System to encourage and foster more partnerships of this kind, both locally and internationally. The success of our students, and ultimately the public school system, is intricately linked to the future success of Bermuda. I thank Mr. Hasso Plattner, the Hasso Plattner Foundation and all local corporate donors who have helped our public schools during these difficult times. Their generosity is truly appreciated by the Ministry, Department, students, parents and staff as their contributions will help our students to realize their potential as we make gains with modernizing the learning environment.”
Minister Rabain added, “Once converted, the funds received from the Hasso Platner Foundation will amount to over $580,000. This will allow for the purchase of around 1600 laptops, approximately 73 percent of the laptops needed for students at the Primary level. With the increased focus and dependency on technology in society today, and as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, it is not only important, but also a necessity to ensure all students have equal access to technology”.
Located in Potsdam, Germany, the Hasso Plattner Foundation was established in 2015 after Mr. Hasso Plattner signed the Giving Pledge initiated by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet. The foundation aims to “accelerate the adoption of digital technologies through science and education, improve access to art and culture, and support environmental conservation.” Mr. Hasso Plattner is one of the founders of SAP, an enterprise software company and founder of the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Engineering.
