ICTA, VTA to streamline Nenasala IT education

The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) and the Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka (VTASL) signed an MoU recently to improve ICT education at Nenasalas.

ICTA Chairman Prof. P. W. Epasinghe and VTASL Chairman Colonel S.R.P. Ratnayake signed the MoU at the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry recently.

According to the MoU, VTASL has agreed to cooperate with ICTA in offering a recognised certificate to students who successfully complete ICT training programs through Nenasalas using infrastructure facilities provided by ICTA.

Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said, "Today the foundation has been laid for the realisation of a long-felt need. President Mahinda Rajapaksa wanted the benefits of ICT accrue to all citizens, and in particular to people in remote villages.

In 2004 when the mantle of Prime Minister fell on President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the ICT literacy was four percent. President Rajapaksa launched the first Nenasala at Kirivehera on January 1, 2005".

"Today there are 838 Nenasalas islandwide including the North and the East.

"There is a Nenasala in the Delft island too. Due to this flagship Nenasala project, today ICT literacy has hit the 50 percent mark. Thanks to the efforts of ICTA and officers who offer their silent service, the 1,000th Nenasala will be set up and opened by the President by the end of the year," he said.

"Recognising the importance of ICT, the President set up a separate Ministry for ICT in 2010. The country is now moving towards successfully meeting the targets set by President Rajapaksa.

One of these is for Sri Lanka to become 75 percent ICT literate by 2016. Another is to create 100,000 ICT jobs by the same year.

This NVQ 3 certificate will be a great boon to all the citizens of Sri Lanka," Minister Siyambalapitiya said.