The Acting Chairperson of the Board of Commissioners of the Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) Abdullah L. Kamara has disclosed that the LTA is devising plans to include digital literacy into the national curriculum to expose secondary students to computer literacy. According to Chairman Kamara, the Government of Liberia wants students to have basic computer knowledge upon graduating from secondary school.
Speaking at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) regular press briefing on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, Kamara disclosed that the President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is keen on achieving this feat, having already begun the Digital Training of ten thousand young people across the country.
The LTA boss revealed that the Presidential Digital Training kicked off on August 12, 2024, to sharpen the minds of the young people on how to use computers and even smartphones.
He said by exposing students to using their smartphones, it will also create an avenue for earning them resources.
“The essence of digital training is to empower people to contribute more meaningfully to our society. We want to make sure that Liberia is prepared digitally before the tenure of this administration elapses”, he said.
Commenting on the delay of the training which should have started since the pronouncement by Pres. Boakai in January during his State of the Nation Address (SONA), Kamara disclosed that there were lots of challenges, ranging from amassing of resources, purchasing of items needed for the program, amongst others.
As the training has commenced, Mr. Kamara sees the move as a watershed moment for the country, citing that such a training can instill creativity in young people, which will assist them in creating for themselves job opportunities, as some will use the knowledge gained to establish their own enterprises.
He then denounced claims from critics that instructors are using chalk boards to lecture in ongoing training, stating that all the 45 training centers across the country are equipped with computers, calling on Liberians to embrace and support the process.
The Acting Board Chairman of the LTA revealed that they have been receiving extravagant news of students knowing how to create other relevant contents, adding that upon the completion of the training, there will be a massive transformation for participants.
He disclosed a plan by the Government of Liberia to empower about 500 thousand young people with digital skills before leaving power. Mr. Kamara extended his thanks to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Post and Telecommunication, and the Ministry of Education for the cordiality being shared so far in ensuring that the project is fully implemented and achieved. Source: LINA
