91 Seniors Complete NCSC-HEART/NSTA Trust Digital Literacy Programme

A total of 91 senior citizens were presented with City & Guilds certificates, following the successful completion of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Proficiency, Seniors’ Digital Literacy Programme.

The programme, which equips seniors with the skills to confidently use smartphones, tablets and computers, forms part of the Government’s ongoing initiative to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusive access for all Jamaican seniors.

The graduation ceremony was held on Thursday (October 1), at the Stony Hill HEART Academy in St. Andrew.

In his remarks, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., noted the growth in the number of graduates from the course over the last four years.

He said that the initiative was undertaken through a partnership with the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC), HEART/NSTA Trust and the Universal Service Fund (USF).

“The partnership between HEART, USF and NCSC is one of the most authentic [and] impactful that we have in Jamaica. I believe that seniors have been able to lead the way in digital literacy. When we started the programme, we started to talk about protection of seniors from scammers and allowing seniors to know how to navigate, to now seniors inspiring juniors,” Mr. Charles Jr said.

“So, I want to congratulate you [the] 72 who are here, but 91 completed the programme. All of you are deserving of a round of applause,” he added.

The Minister also pointed out that the programme provided the participants with the necessary digital upskilling required to operate within society.

“Technology is shifting. It’s exciting and scary at the same time. It’s exciting and concerning… . We need to spread the message to make this consistently grow, so that if we have 91 [graduating now], we [will] have more at the next staging. [Maybe] 100,” Mr. Charles Jr said.

Meanwhile, top-student Millicent Isaacs achieved 100 per cent in both the practical and theory tests.

“I feel an overwhelming sense of pride. This graduation marks an important milestone in our personal journeys. We began this course with different levels of experience with technology. Some of us looked at the computer and wondered, ‘What am I supposed to do with this?’,” she stated.

“Some had never sent an email, while others felt intimidated by turning on a computer or navigating smartphone settings, but we have learnt to use computers, explore the internet, search for information, communicate with others, send emails, navigate websites and access a world of knowledge at our fingertips,” Ms. Isaacs added.

She further stated that the programme allowed the participants to learn something about themselves.

“Age is not a barrier to learning, and it is never too late to acquire a new skill,” she said.

Ms. Isaacs received a laptop from the USF for being the top student.