Jamaica Celebrates International Girls in ICT Day on April 26
By: , April 27, 2018The Key Point:
Photo: Rudranath Fraser
Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Alando Terrelonge (right), engages Kingston High School students, Deandrea Gardner (second left), and Treshana Goodger (second right) in discussion during a function at the Sagicor Auditorium, New Kingston, on Thursday (April 26) to mark International Girls in Information and Communications Technology Day. Also listening is Teacher at the school, Alecia Reid.The Facts
- The initiative, spearheaded by the International Telecommunications Union, aims to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in the growing ICT field.
- In his remarks, Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Alando Terrelonge, said statistics show that by 2020, there will be a gap of approximately 1.4 million jobs in the ICT sector.
The Full Story
Jamaica today (April 26) joined 166 other countries in celebrating International Girls in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Day.
The initiative, spearheaded by the International Telecommunications Union, aims to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in the growing ICT field.
It also seeks to enable both girls and technology companies to reap the benefits of greater female participation in the ICT sector.
The Spectrum Management Authority marked the day by engaging 40 young ladies from secondary schools in Kingston and St. Andrew through exciting discussions and interactive activities at a function held at the Sagicor Auditorium, New Kingston.
In his remarks, Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Alando Terrelonge, said statistics show that by 2020, there will be a gap of approximately 1.4 million jobs in the ICT sector.
“We are hoping that some of you young ladies will want to be a part of this renaissance, would want to be a part of the opportunities that will become available. In Europe, for the same period, over 500,000 jobs will become available (and) in Canada over 200,000 jobs will become available. Here in Jamaica, hundreds and thousands of jobs will also become available, because ICT is the future,” he said.
Mr. Terrelonge told the students that ICT affords the opportunity for financial independence, while also making a valuable contribution to Jamaica’s development.
“A part of the Ministry’s aim is to empower young women and encourage (them) to seek the… jobs that will give them that kind of sustainability,” he added.
The State Minister further encouraged the young ladies to take the ICT world seriously as “it could lead you to a wonderful career”.
“Ladies you would want to get involved in the ICT world. Get into creating apps… the future is ICT, and we want to see more young girls getting involved. Empower yourselves, knowledge is power and ICT is power,” Mr. Terrelonge said.