Another ICT Initiative for Education

An initiative to further strengthen the use of information and communication technology in the country’s education sector has been launched by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson. The project is a private/public partnership between ICT4D Jamaica which is co-sponsored by the HEART Trust/NTA and the International Education Collaborative Foundation, a non-profit organization based in the United States.

Known as the Jamaica Collaborative for Universal Technology Education (JCUTE), the initiative is designed to integrate ICT into education at the secondary level and in so doing provide 21st Century education geared towards workforce skill development for economic competitiveness.

In welcoming the project Mr. Patterson said that for Jamaica to realize its vast potential, an environment for the creation of public and private partnership must exist. He said ICT has been transforming the lives and livelihood of peoples around the world and must be used locally to enrich the lives of the people of Jamaica and youth in particular.

Acknowledging that economic competitiveness was critical to the country’s survival in the global economy, the Prime Minister said it was essential that a 21st Century workforce be developed that is empowered to produce competitively as well as withstand the liberalization of its own labour market arising from the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market.

He said that in this regard, the potential of information and communication technology must be maximized and that given the ability of ICT education programmes to achieve these goals, collaborative endeavours such as JCUTE should be encouraged. A major objective of the government’s telecommunication policy was the promotion of ICT in recognition of its ability to enhance social objective in education, health and national security among other sectors.

The introduction of JCUTE has been made possible by the transformation of the education sector. He added that it would encourage students to maximize their potential in an enriching, learner-centred education environment supported by the maximum use of learning technologies and a cadre of committed, qualified and professional educators. He reiterated his belief in the future of the country and its prospects and said the nation should continue to invest in the youth as this would yield returns.