The Ministry of Education and Youth is to benefit from financial assistance from the Japanese Trust Fund to set up a long distance education programme in computer studies.

This was revealed by the Minister for Education and Youth, Mr Danny Faure, in a recent session of the National Assembly.

Minister Faure was answering a question put forward by Honourable Terence Mondon about the ministry’s plan to equip secondary schools with computers.

Minister Faure said that the new project had already been formulated and was expected to be implemented next year.

The long distance education programme would allow teachers to upgrade their knowledge in computer studies which they will then pass on to their students.

A division has been created within the ministry as a centre point for all software applications.

The minister noted that his ministry was in the process of building a second computer room in all secondary schools and was to equip all new primary schools with at least one.

Minister Faure said that his ministry was already working in close collaboration with the private sector to help improve computer literacy in schools.

Victoria Computer Services, he noted, was a major partner which trained MEY technicians and they were also working closely with Cable & Wireless to build more internet cafes so that schoolchildren as well as members of the public could get access to the internet.

Through the Adult Learning and Distance Education Centre (ALDEC), the MEY is offering different computer courses which are in great demand.

Another initiative by MEY to encourage computer literacy amongst the youth is the launching of the Youth Service Bureau in five regions – North, South, East, West and Inner Island.

Minister Faure nevertheless said that there was a need to develop software that would become handy for both teachers and students to ensure that Information Technology (IT) was well implemented in all schools.

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