A total of 41 people graduated from a three-day Information and Communications Technology (ICT) training programme in Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice, on Saturday.
The training was offered through the Office of the Prime Minister’s Industry and Innovation Unit. So far, the Unit has conducted seven training sessions, totalling 272 people.
During a simple graduation ceremony at the Mibicuri Primary School in Black Bush Polder, Vice Chairperson of the Miciburi Neighborhood Democratic Council, Rajkumarie Nankoo, lauded the government’s initiative and congratulated the graduates for successfully completing the training.
“This is a new building for residents in Black Bush Polder, especially the older folks. This is a nice initiative that the government has brought to the community so that youths can empower themselves,” she disclosed.
One of the participants, Chandrapaul Badri, testified: “I was motivated to join this programme because I wanted to improve my computer skills. I saw it as a growing opportunity to gain knowledge and to help me in the future. This training was very educational and well organised. Each day, I learned something new – from the basics of using a computer to processing and PowerPoint. The trainer explained everything, and we got time to practice.”
Delivering the feature address, the Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh, revealed that in today’s world, ICT literacy is important.
“I want to commend all of you for taking the time to come out and participate in the training programme and being interested in acquiring new skills.
We want you to be educated, to get good quality jobs, and to be able to use your skills, whether in employment or as an entrepreneur. And more generally, to be an enlightened person because education is a source of enlightenment,” he revealed.
Minister Singh emphasised that the Dr. Irfaan Ali-led Administration has been investing heavily to improve educational opportunities for citizens nationwide. He asserted that the ICT training is one of the many initiatives the government rolled out to ensure citizens are digitally inclined.
“There is no objective that is more important than ensuring that we have a population that is well educated, that has the skills that are needed, and that is relevant to the economy, and the country in which we live today and which we will be living tomorrow,” Minister Singh stated.
Each of the participants received a certificate for completing the training. Trophies were given to three students who performed exceptionally well.
