Seniors Participate in Digital Literacy Training Course

The National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC), in collaboration with the HEART College of Innovation and Technology, in St. James, hosted a training programme for 37 senior citizens, who are now digitally literate.

The 10-week course was aimed at improving the quality of life for seniors by making them more technologically inclined.

At the graduation ceremony, held recently at the HEART College of Innovation and Technology, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., underscored the importance of the course.

“All of this digital literacy and computer literacy that we’re discussing now will become the norm. There will be a time when there are no other options, but to use the ABM or for funds to be sent to you via some kind of online transfer. The reality is that the world is moving in that direction,” the Minister said.

He also asked the graduates to encourage their peers to take part in the training, and commended the HEART College and their instructors for the quality of the training provided.

“I hope that you inspire several others beyond these two cohorts to really dispel the fear. There are senior citizens now who want to learn, but they feel that they’re going to be a bother. That’s why, when I listened to how you characterised the two instructors, I was so proud of what HEART is doing,” Mr. Charles Jr. said.

“Because what it means is that they were able to put you in an environment that was created to enable you and to make you feel comfortable and confident in asking questions without feeling like they’re foolish,” he added.

One of the graduates, Jennifer Gordon, said that while she was not a complete neophyte when it came to computers, her knowledge was still somewhat limited, prior to attending the training course.

“Truth be told, I was not a total novice, but I was far from being computer friendly. I can recall one time when I asked my son to do something for me, his response was, you can’t read, you can read, so do it. Now that I have completed the course, I have progressed from that level,” she said.

“I can walk into the National Water Commission (NWC) office and pay my bill using the kiosk. I now enter ATM spaces with confidence to do my transactions. There were some commands I was afraid to respond to, whether on my phone or desktop, but now I know that information will not be deleted or cause any crash if I respond to them,” Ms. Gordon added.

She said that she looked forward to attending the classes twice per week because of the exciting topics, as well as the energy and encouragement of the instructors, who she described as “having the patience of Job.”

“My instructors showed their concern for our well-being. They knew that some seniors may have to eat at a particular time. They tried to make our learning space comfortable. They were composed at times when they should be frustrated from having to repeat or demonstrate an activity many times,” Ms. Gordon noted.

“[I want to] say thanks to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, through which the course was made possible. We know information technology is where the world is at and it sets us on a path of creating virtual communities, a global world, and so as long as we are alive, we better get with the programme or be left behind,” she said.

Another graduate, Kay Waite, outlined that she enrolled in the programme to improve her digital skills as it is imperative that senior citizens, such as herself, become more familiar with technology.

“As technology advances, as a people, especially senior citizens, we need to be in sync with it to function effectively. When I heard about this programme, I decided to enrol, mainly for the need to be more up to date with musical technology and to socialise. Socialising is a necessity for healthy living, especially at this stage of our lives as seniors,” she pointed out.

The NCSC is an agency of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.