The Digicel Foundation has reconfirmed its partnership with the Ministry of Education under the newly appointed minister of education, Ronald Thwaites.

Digicel Foundation Chairperson Lisa Lewis and Executive Director Samantha Chantrelle visited Thwaites to discuss the foundation's continued partnership with the ministry. Lewis reaffirmed Digicel Foundation's commitment to achieving 100 per cent literacy in Jamaica by 2015.

Since 2009, the Ministry of Education and the Digicel Foundation have partnered on an enrichment initiative, which targets underperforming schools in literacy through the introduction of innovative Information and communication technologies (ICT). To date, the foundation has invested over J$100 million in the 57 centres and mobile carts in schools across the island. Over 6,000 students have been involved in the programme, with an average improvement of two grade levels in their literacy within the first year of the intervention. The foundation and the Ministry of Education intend to continue their commitment to this initiative in 2012.

The minister went on to talk about his focus on early childhood education and his deep-seated interest in maximising the use of ICT to improve teaching methodologies in schools.

The Digicel Foundation, which was founded in 2004, is the largest local foundation in Jamaica. It has invested over US$14 million in over 200 community projects in the areas of education, sports, culture, and community empowerment across Jamaica.

Lewis said: "We are proud of the work that we have accomplished with the Ministry of Education and look forward to even more progress in the coming months and years. Minister Thwaites is very passionate about education in our country and we look forward to our continued work with the ministry under his guidance."