In rural areas, many Ordinary and advanced level students have certificates in information technology ( IT) from various training institutions. However, when the same students are actually exposed to a computer, they often have no idea what to do with it. As G.I Pushpakumara from Ethiliyawawa, Monaragala puts it, ‘‘they have ‘IT’ certificates but they have no knowledge.’’
This lack of knowledge can be traced back to how IT training courses in these areas are conducted. Generally, 50 or 100 children are placed in room for lectures. Sometimes a singal PC is available for the students to see how a PC works, at a distance in most instance – but , often, not even that is available.
Hands –on, practical time is an absolute requirement to obtain a real understanding of IT and the children attending these class spend money their parents can ill afford (usually,Rs.5,000 or more) to receive a certificate not worth the paper it is printed on.
ICTA’s solution to this problem is a combination of its Nanasala (rural knowledge center) which offer computer and internet service, the Nanasala voucher scheme offering free usage of services at these centers and most importantly , dedicated Nanasala operators drawn from the community who treat the operation of a Nenasala not as a trade but almost a higher calling.
The Nanasala hold IT training sessions in small batches where each child receives at least half an hour of practical training per session. This training, which costs much less than other courses, leaves the child with a good understanding of computers and technology.
However, as any anyone in it will tell you it is the unstructured time where anything can be done with the computer that helps create quality computer literacy.
Children, whose parents may not be able to afford a computer for home use ,can , through the Nanasala voucher program. Use a computer in the Nanasalain the Nanasala without any charge for a fixed period (1 hour )per day. This lets them, under the supervision of the operator, practice, program and play at whatever they want, and also gives them that easy familiarity with PCs that is the ultimate goal of any ICT literary program.
The government of Sri Lanka has a stated goal of increasing ICT literary to 60% from the current 10%.This will require innovative approaches to spreading quality ICT literary amongst the entire populace,70%of which is rural. The ICT Agency believes that the Nenasala project and related programmes, with their focus on the provision of quality ICT training by dedicated operators in the rural areas of Sri Lanka, will be key to meeting this goal.
This lack of knowledge can be traced back to how IT training courses in these areas are conducted. Generally, 50 or 100 children are placed in room for lectures. Sometimes a singal PC is available for the students to see how a PC works, at a distance in most instance – but , often, not even that is available.
Hands –on, practical time is an absolute requirement to obtain a real understanding of IT and the children attending these class spend money their parents can ill afford (usually,Rs.5,000 or more) to receive a certificate not worth the paper it is printed on.
ICTA’s solution to this problem is a combination of its Nanasala (rural knowledge center) which offer computer and internet service, the Nanasala voucher scheme offering free usage of services at these centers and most importantly , dedicated Nanasala operators drawn from the community who treat the operation of a Nenasala not as a trade but almost a higher calling.
The Nanasala hold IT training sessions in small batches where each child receives at least half an hour of practical training per session. This training, which costs much less than other courses, leaves the child with a good understanding of computers and technology.
However, as any anyone in it will tell you it is the unstructured time where anything can be done with the computer that helps create quality computer literacy.
Children, whose parents may not be able to afford a computer for home use ,can , through the Nanasala voucher program. Use a computer in the Nanasalain the Nanasala without any charge for a fixed period (1 hour )per day. This lets them, under the supervision of the operator, practice, program and play at whatever they want, and also gives them that easy familiarity with PCs that is the ultimate goal of any ICT literary program.
The government of Sri Lanka has a stated goal of increasing ICT literary to 60% from the current 10%.This will require innovative approaches to spreading quality ICT literary amongst the entire populace,70%of which is rural. The ICT Agency believes that the Nenasala project and related programmes, with their focus on the provision of quality ICT training by dedicated operators in the rural areas of Sri Lanka, will be key to meeting this goal.
No comments:
Post a Comment