Last Friday, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, in collaboration with the Youth Training and Employment Partnership Program (YTEPP), launched a functional Digital Literacy Program.
It was so well received by the public that registration was almost at full capacity on Saturday, the ministry said in a press release on Saturday.
Digital Transformation Minister Hassel Bacchus said that while he is not surprised by the acceptance, he is encouraged by the response from the public, who welcomed with open arms the opportunity for personal and national advancement.
The operational digital literacy program is in its first cycle and will be followed by many other offerings from the Ministry within the digital skills project suite. It is leveraging partnerships with training and development agencies and organizations to deliver this program.
As the Ministry’s digital skills program expands throughout the year, digital literacy courses will be developed for intermediate and advanced participants, in collaboration with organizations with which GoRTT already has venture agreements, as well as other skills training providers, the ministry. said.
Different demographic groups will be targeted, using specialized delivery formats and classes for over 65s and younger students. These will feature various subjects including robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR).
“We are working ‘toward our digital future’ and a large part of our vision rests on providing opportunities for as many of our people as possible to interact with technology in meaningful ways, to understand the capabilities of the smart devices we use, and feel empowered to participate in the digital world,” said Bacchus.
In the first phase, the Functional Digital Literacy course with YTEPP Limited will be available in a fully online format and will focus on topics such as: using a computer to access the Internet safely; efficient use of the Internet and sending electronic mail (e-mail); creating a Microsoft Word document; using Microsoft at the basic level; completing and submitting online forms; and using online government services.
According to the findings of the 2021 Digital Inclusion Survey by the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT), more than 70 percent of households have a functional fixed broadband internet service (fixed internet subscription).
The cultural change that the Ministry of Digital Transformation aims to achieve is citizens’ understanding of the potential and uses of the Internet as a basic good/service and harnessing its creative and economic potential for digital transformation, the ministry said.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation and YTEPP Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in providing digital and life skills training to 1000 citizens in the first instance. The virtual course “Functional Digital Science” is offered through the Moodle online platform.
For those registrants who do not have access to online learning equipment such as desktop or laptop computers, or a reliable internet connection, arrangements will be made for them to use the Ministry’s ICT Access Centers and established YTEPP centers in Trinidad and Tobago.
Many more people will be able to benefit from the free digital training as the program grows significantly in the coming weeks and months, the ministry said.
Bacchus was appointed Minister of Digital Transformation on 12 July 2021, after serving as Minister in the Ministry of Public Administration and Digital Transformation from August 2020.
For more information on the Digital Literacy Program and further training on Digital Skills, persons can visit the Ministry’s website at www.mdt.gov.tt
