Flow Foundation Supports Continued Learning at Bustamante Hospital
The Bustamante Hospital for Children’s (BHC) Learning Center has been playing an important role in ensuring that hospitalised children remain on their educational path. The hospital achieves this by equipping the Learning Center with a library, which follows the Ministry of Education’s curriculum and appointing a designated teacher for the wards.
Another key tool that fosters learning at the Center is the internet. The Flow Foundation has been providing the Learning Center with internet access since 2015 and recently upgraded the cable TV service at the facility.
“Some children are visual learners, so they understand better when we incorporate the videos from the internet or the cable TV in the curriculum,” shared head teacher Ann Marie Thomas as she noted how the provision of both services enhance the students’ understanding of the subjects.
The integration of technology at the Learning Center also equips the patients to resume their education at school, without losing pace, once they have been released from the hospital. CEO of the BHC, Anthony Wood, said the hospital is committed to the total care of the children, which includes the continuity of their education.
“We do our best to ensure the children’s educational needs are not derailed by illness, so the Learning Center plays an important role in ensuring continued education while they are recovering. Thanks to the excellent internet and cable service that the Flow Foundation provides, we can turn the center into a digital and interactive learning space that transforms the educational process through deeper engagement around the various subjects,” Wood stated.
The educational provision offered by the hospital is a welcomed addition for the parents. Abby-Gayle Dawkins, mother of Kamar Howell, said she was initially worried about her son’s education after admitting him.
“At first, I was worried about him falling behind but I appreciate that they have a Learning Center and that the teacher gives him PEP practice worksheets as well as helps him with his school work,” said Dawkins.
The Flow Foundation has had a longstanding relationship with the BHC. As the Flow network has expanded and improved, the Foundation has been upgrading the service offered to the hospital to provide the best experience for the staff and patients.
Executive Director of the Flow Foundation and Flow’s Director of Communications, Kayon Mitchell, said the BHC Learning Center is a great example of how Flow’s technology provides solutions to positively impact lives.
“The Flow Foundation is proud to be a partner with the Bustamante Hospital for Children and to support its mission of caring for our children during one of their most vulnerable periods,” Mitchell said.
“The internet and multimedia content have become indispensable tools in facilitating education and providing more options to support the learning and development of our children. Through this partnership, we are supporting the educational needs of the children while they’re being treated at the hospital, as well as fulfilling our own mission of promoting digital inclusivity and using technology to create opportunities and transform lives."
