Learning a Lifelong Passion for 89-Year-Old Irene Walter

For 89-year-old Irene Walter, learning has been a lifelong passion, so when the opportunity presented itself for her to participate in a Digital Literacy Programme for senior citizens, she did not hesitate to sign up.

Eight weeks later, she emerged as one of the top performers in the Introduction to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) proficiency course taught by facilitators from the HEART/NSTA Trust.

Despite being retired for more than two decades and not having been in a classroom setting since the 1990s, the mother of four was among eight students who attained scores of over 90 per cent in the course.

Being top of the class is by no means a novel feat for Mrs. Walter, who has always been a high achiever.

She tells JIS News that she obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the University of the West Indies (UWI), a Certificate in Management from the University of Miami, and a master’s in educational leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. She also has an honorary doctorate from the International University of the Caribbean.

Mrs. Walter worked at UWI from 1960 to 1974 where she served as Supervisor of Records and then Assistant Registrar in charge of students.

Following her departure from the UWI in August 1974, Mrs. Walter joined the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), which had just been established, and has the distinction of being the CXC’s first Pro Registrar and first female Registrar.

“I opened the office in Jamaica in 1974. I was responsible for the western region, which was then Belize, Cayman, Jamaica, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

After her retirement in 1998, she was gifted a computer by the CXC and did a training course; however, she never developed expertise in operating the machine, which at that point, was a relatively recent invention.

“I played around with the computer but was never very proficient at it. So, when the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) issued the invitation [for the digital literacy course], I applied and was accepted. At the time I started the course, very basic things in computers I didn’t know,” the retiree admits.

However, she quickly grasped the concepts thanks to the course design and the expertise of instructors Jason Burrowes and Keith Sharpe.

“The curriculum is designed for beginners. It addresses what is a computer, how does it work, as well as the practical applications, like doing emails and doing documents. It really is a comprehensive course at the very beginning. So, you get both knowledge about the computer, what it can do, as well as the application in the case of using the Word facility, as well as doing emails,” the 89-year-old tells JIS News.

She notes that under the guidance of her instructors, she was very diligent about studying the topics covered and attending classes, only missing one session.

“The tutors were very patient. They would review something with you if you didn’t understand it. A good teacher makes a good student and this is a factor in their success. Certainly, they (teachers) have been a factor in my success,” Mrs. Walter affirms.

In his reflection on the course, Mr. Burrowes shares that teaching the retirees was also a rewarding experience for him.

“I was the instructor, but I felt like I learned so much information from the seniors in the class – patience [and] dedication. I’m very proud of them,” he tells JIS News.

Mr. Burrowes says Mrs. Walter was a dedicated participant.

“At 89 years old, she defied expectations with her quick grasp of concepts and active engagement in class discussions. Determined to fully understand the material, she regularly asked thoughtful questions and interacted meaningfully with her instructor,” he shares.

The HEART/NSTA Trust Instructor adds that Mrs. Walter’s commitment was unwavering.

She looked forward to each class and made every effort to attend, even consulting her doctor for clearance on days she felt unwell.

“Mrs. Walter’s remarkable passion for learning not only inspired her peers but also earned her recognition as a top achiever in the City and Guilds assessment for her course,” Mr. Burrows says.
NCSC Education Programme Organiser, Tamekia Halliman, affirms that the senior citizens who participated were excited to learn how to use the computer.

“They invested extra time and effort to get as much as possible from the class, including participating in vibrant study groups. By the end of the course, they all indicated that they were more comfortable using computers. One student in particular was extremely happy to complete the course and to earn the first certification she would receive in her lifetime,” Ms. Halliman tells JIS.

She adds that the NCSC is grateful to the team from the HEART/NSTA Trust, especially the College of Innovation and Technology and the Stony Hill Campus for accommodating the partnership to advance digital inclusion of Jamaica’s senior citizens.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Walter boasts that she no longer has to seek assistance from her children to carry out tasks that proved difficult before completing the course.

“I use my computer every day. I do my online banking, and I do correspondence online and I can actually print. In fact, I just did a eulogy for a friend. I typed it myself, edited it and printed it. So, I feel much more comfortable having done the course,” the retiree shares.

She emphasises that the digital literacy course empowered her and the other seniors in the cohort, so they no longer fear the digital space.

“We learned the safety methods, what to do and what not to do, what information you should share and how you can recognise scams. The course dealt with those issues so that we were made aware of the dangers as well as being given the skills,” she outlines.

The 89-year-old also walked away from the programme with an unexpected benefit – friends.

“You know, in my class there were about 25 of us and we have bonded. We now have something on WhatsApp so we can chat to each other. It has really filled a gap in our social life. One of the difficulties of being old is that you tend to get isolated. You’re not in the work world so you get isolated. So, this is a great opportunity to keep in touch with all the participants,” she shares.

Mrs. Walter and seven other high achievers from the digital literacy programme were gifted with laptops by the Universal Service Fund (USF), through the intervention of Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., who has also committed to securing digital devices for the remaining graduates.

“The knowledge we have learned should be practised every day and for that reason, I’m grateful to the Minister for arranging to provide equipment that people can practise at home,” she says.

With her brand-new laptop and her newfound confidence, Mrs. Walter declares that the next order of business for her is to learn how to use Microsoft Excel.