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Preparing the Nation's Youth for the Information Age
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Preparing the Nation's Youth for the Information Age
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Contact:
Rose
Marie Harris Friday,
September 28, 2001
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There has been a call for changes in educational focus if member countries of
the OECS are to become knowledgeable and more competitive in the information age
and succeed. The call has
come from Chairman of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL)
Calixte George who was addressing the Ameritech Global Services International
Conference and Trade Show at the Hyatt Hotel on September 28, 2001.
“We
will have to teach our children the relevant subjects and retrain those who may
not have been exposed to science-based subjects.
Students must be provided with the skills in keeping with the needs of
today and the future. The
resources and methodologies required must be provided if we are to be
successful. The second
component of ICT success is access to the necessary systems and hardware.
When this has been fulfilled we will be able to maximize the
opportunities that are presented to create new opportunities.”
“However computer ownership in households is quite low and
in some ways computer use is still a novelty.
Some governments are thus beginning initiatives to attempt to increase
the ownership and use of computers among their citizens and to further integrate
ICT and technology in their systems and procedures.
In fact, the governments of the OECS will be making it mandatory that
both existing and new telecommunications operators as part of their universal
service obligations to provide telecommunications to schools, colleges,
hospitals, infirmaries and similar institutions and to all disabled and
physically challenged persons, the minister said. |
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The
ECTEL chairman explained that access to computers and technology is being
addressed through the education system.