NTRC receives high praises for IT sensitization programme

Senior Education officer with responsibility for Adult and Continuing Education (ACE) John “Zan” George has praised the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) for their efforts centred around sensitizing Vincentians about computers, telecommunications and the functions of the NTRC.{{more}}

George sang praises to the NTRC on Thursday, April 25, at the Biabou Learning Resource Centre, where the NTRC was hosting one of its computer and Internet sensitization campaign sessions.

The education officer stressed that this aspect of the NTRC’s policy is in direct keeping with the mandate of the Adult and Continuing Education arm of the Ministry of Education, which usually holds classes at the Biabou Centre and other centres.

“What the NTRC is doing is very good, because these skills that they are exposing persons to are very important”, said George, who stressed that anything to do with computer literacy is important as these days it is important, that persons gravitate towards computers.

“Exposing people to the functions of the NTRC and how to manipulate the Internet is very good and we are very pleased to be cooperating and collaborating with the NTRC”, George said.

Meanwhile, the NTRC’s Biabou session was attended by the NTRC’s Universal Service Fund administrator Kyron Duncan, acting accountant at the NTRC Mishka Quashie and adult educator at the ACE Department John Erjavec.

A number of persons from the surrounding districts, including Stubbs, Georgetown and Colonaire, attended and received instructions on Internet and computer use. Among the attendees were Monika Maloney, Janice Miller, Verone Hillocks and Andre Cain.

Maloney, who is from Stubbs, said that it is good to be able to come to the centre at Biabou and receive instructions on computer use. She said that she usually visits the centre on Mondays and Wednesdays.

“I have learnt a lot, including how to send emails, use the Internet, Facebook and today, I heard about the NTRC and it was good to meet them face to face”.

Miller, also from Stubbs, stressed that she was also taught a lot as the day’s course was very interesting.

“I’m glad to come and learn, because we have learnt a lot about the Internet and I am now able to email friends and relatives. We live in a computerized world, so knowing about the computer is important and now I know about the NTRC and I have a place where I can take by problems with the telecommunications providers”.

Hillocks is from Georgetown and described the training available at the centre as, “the best thing that ever happened to me”.

She said that visiting on that Thursday alone, she learnt “a lot of stuff and I don’t regret as I can do stuff and I can also teach people”. She said that the free training made available by the NTRC and at the centre is something that she would not have been able to pay for if she had to, so she is very grateful.

“I intend to learn all I can and I need a job and without being computer literate, I can’t get a job”, said Hillocks.

Cain is from Biabou and he described the sessions at the centre as informative and exceptional. He said that the teachers are usually very helpful. He added that, like Hillocks, he is hoping to get a job and, “it is important that I find myself able to manoeuvre around a computer”.

Meanwhile, George said that the ACE set-up has several programmes (over 60) of varying types, both academic and practical.

He said that in most cases needs assessment have been carried out and the programmes are demand driven, in that people have to ask for them. Tutoring is available in computer literacy, Internet skills, plumbing, carpentry, welding, electrical installation, while there is also a full range of academic programmes (CSEC programme level and basic literacy).

“Our main aim is to provide access to persons who have otherwise been disadvantaged and would not have had the chance to be in an educational institution”, said George.

He said that the programmes are free and persons can contact the ACE zonal coordinators in the nine zones throughout the country or the central office at the Ministry of Education.

“One misconception is l Continued from Page 14

that people always believe that we are talking about illiterate persons. It’s much more than that, it is about empowering persons at whatever stage or level they are at along the education continuum, so that they can be empowered, because nobody can be literate in all the different fields, so we help persons gain access to all the different fields”, said George.

Also, Erjavec said that currently he is training persons who will go out into the various communities and give computer training to parents specifically, on how to use computers.

He said that the persons he is currently training will use the Government issued net books to teach parents about the different uses of the laptops.

This training for parents will take place starting this month in Fancy, Colonarie and Chester Cottage and Erjavec is encouraging persons to take part.