The Tribune

By CELESTE NIXON

Tribune Staff Reporter

cnixon@tribunemedia.net

COMMONWEALTH Bank has donated school supplies to students and electronic equipment to educators.

During a press conference at Commonwealth Bank head office on Mackey Street yesterday, bank president Ian Jennings said giving back to the community is an important part of the bank’s corporate responsibility.

He said: “In keeping with our commitment to develop the communities in which we live, work and conduct business, Commonwealth Bank is taking its corporate responsibility seriously by recognising a need and giving back to the community in a big way by providing Bahamian schoolchildren with back-to-school supplies and our educators with electronic equipment. It is our belief that contributing the latest technology in laptops, LCD projectors and Promethean Activ Boards will benefit both educators and students.”

The bank has already packaged and delivered around 10,000 back-packs filled with essential school supplies like books, pencils, rulers and pens to students across the Family Islands including MICAL, Bimini, Abaco, Grand Bahama, Long Island, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Exuma, San Salvador and Andros.

Mr Jennings said donating the latest technological tools will assist teachers and help students compete at international standards.

“Today, we are making another significant contribution to the improvement of our national educational programme and we are very pleased to present an 10 lap-tops, 10 LCD projectors and 10 Promethean Activ Boards which brings the total donation of electronic equipment to date to 175 lap-tops, 175 LCD projectors and 30 Promethean Activ Boards.  

“Educators are no longer training students to compete in their local schools and districts, but now have the task of making them global thinkers, communicators and catalysts for change. In order to accomplish this, they must be equipped with the proper tools,” said Mr Jennings. 

He said over the past five years, the bank has donated more than $1.5 million in scholarships, school supplies, and technological teaching tools. “It is our belief  that the students will benefit from this substantial donation,” he said, “and take full advantage of the educational opportunities provided to them so that this donation translates into a sound investment in our nation’s future.”