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| Sunday, 12 December 2004 |
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IT for rural youth by Gamini Warushamana A large scale IT training network is being constructed to bring the computer and IT education to rural youth, by the Ministry of Skills Development Tertiary and Vocational Education. The Skills Development Project funded by the Asian Development Bank has allocated Rs. 230 million for the project and the construction work is almost completed and is due to open shortly. A large scale IT training network is being constructed to bring the computer and IT education to rural youth, by the Ministry of Skills Development Tertiary and Vocational Education. The Skills Development Project funded by the Asian Development Bank has allocated Rs. 230 million for the project and the construction work is almost completed and is due to open shortly. The network consists of a National IT Centre, five regional IT centres and 59 rural IT centres. The National IT Centre, the main institution of the network has been established at Narahenpita, Colombo while Regional IT centres have been established in Kegalle, Galle, Anuradhapura, Kandy and Baticalloa districts. Under each regional IT centre 8-10 rural IT centres have been established. All these IT centres are equipped with modern technology, Internet and e-mail facilities, textbooks, reading and other learner resources. A Local Area Network (LAN) enables the connection and sharing of resources in every IT centre. These centre networks will be connected to a Wide Area Network (WAN) by linking all centres with the National IT centre as well as connecting IT centres with each other. Lecturers and instructors for these training centres have already been trained. Pilot computer courses have started in the Colombo National IT Centre and the five regional IT centres. Four agencies are engaged in the project and three of these are vocational training institutions coming under the ministry. Vocational Training Authority (VTA) manages 27 rural IT centres; National Apprentice Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) manages another 17 rural IT centres. The Department of Technical Education and Training (TET) and National Youth Service Council (NYSC) will manage another six to seven rural IT centres respectively. The Computer courses conducted by these centres will follow the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) method that was introduced by the ministry to all vocational training institutions recently. The NVQ is scheduled to develop standard skill levels in students who complete the courses. Rural IT training centres are facilitated to conduct certificate courses in IT and regional and national centres will provide diploma courses. In addition a National Diploma course as well as degree programs combined with universities are on the list of computer courses that are scheduled to start at national and regional level. After the establishment of this network it will be the largest IT training network of the country. Meanwhile the government has initiated a program to monitor and regulate all IT and computer education institutions of the country. The aim of this new program is to maintain the quality of the computer training courses and ensure adequate physical facilities of all IT education institutions. In the future all IT education institutions will have to register with the National Vocational Training Commission. To get the registration the institutions have to fullfil certain minimum criteria that cover physical facilities as well as the qualifications of the teachers and instructors. By getting the registration these institutions will also benefit. The registered institutions have to follow NVQ method and they will be able to issue an internationally-recognised certificate, ministry sources said. |
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