New feat for visually impaired

by Lalin Fernandopulle

Thirty visually impaired students who completed the Information Communication Technology (ICT) course conducted by the ICT Training Centre of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) were awarded certificates last week.

The students who had no access to computer education completed a six-month course funded by the International Labour Organisation. The desire to learn enabled them to achieve this feat which would assure them of a bright future.

Training Executive and Officer In-charge of the Centre, Manique Gunaratne said that though the learning process was slow to some it was not a barrier for them to acquire the skills. “Give them a chance and they will do equally well or even better than others”, she said.

The trainees comprise students from various parts of the country.

Thirty seven percent of the visually impaired students are university graduates and 67 percent are employed in private and public institutions.

“There is immense potential in these students who have realised their abilities. Many are already gainfully employed in leading institutions,” Gunaratne said.

A student who is employed as a management trainee at the Central Bank said that the ICT training helped her immensely to obtain the job. She said that she is keen to excel in her profession and make a salient contribution to the country.

The EFC Training Centre has extended its outreach to cater to the visually impaired students in the North and the East with courses in Vavuniya and Jaffna.

“We completed the second course which was conducted in Vavuniya last year. Many courses are lined up for students in these regions which offer plenty of scope for IT professionals,” an EFC official said.

He said students are selected through interviews and added that the institution is geared to accommodate more students keen to learn and develop their IT skills.

“Training visually impaired students is not an easy task but we have realised the benefits the students reap from the training. Training of differently-abled people gives us great satisfaction as it is a means of accepting such people who are often discriminated in society,” he said.

Visually impaired students learn IT through Screen Reading Software which is recognised globally. EFC Director General Ravi Peiris said that there are few drop-outs due to financial constraints and distance. Many come from distant places.

The EFC which completed 85 years in January this year has been a mediator in resolving several labour issues in the country. The institution has around 1.2 million employed in various sectors across the country.