The Chinese government will be the initial financier of the Jagdeo administration’s ambitious US$30 million One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) initiative which it is looking to roll out by year end, Stabroek News has learnt.
This newspaper was unable to ascertain under what agreement the two countries will be partnering on the financing, but learnt from its source that the funds were secured last week and that the project was gearing for a pilot launch which will see some 12,000 instruments distributed in the first year.
The source said that since the money is being provided by China it is expected the netbooks would be bought from a Chinese manufacturer. According to the source, warranty, service and support for the instruments would be provided by local companies.
Information reaching this newspaper suggests that the parties are close to sealing a deal to buy the netbooks which will be used for the pilot.
The initiative, which was announced by President Bharrat Jagdeo in July, is being run out of the Project Management Office in the Office of Climate Change and is geared towards supporting and fostering community and economic development within the framework of the Low Carbon Development Stra-tegy. Jagdeo had said that the government would pledge US$30 million over the next three years to put computers in the hands of at least 90,000 poor families. At a news conference on Friday he said that the money would not come from the financial mechanism set up with Norway which would see that country provide some US$250 million over a period of years to Guyana for cooperation on climate change mitigation. However, the President said there will be some connection between the project and the financing facility.
The President added that the OLPF model will not be utilised in the Amerindian communities.
“We’re going to probably have internet kiosks in each village so they would have a bank of computers there rather than in each individual household because of the situation with power in those communities,” he said.
The Office of the President has since publicised vacancies for trainers and this newspaper has learnt that they are looking to hire some 300 individuals who will provide support for the laptop recipients.
A draft document seen by this newspaper had suggested that the distribution of the laptops would be managed through current aid/volunteer organisations and government ministries working on development projects in communities. However, Stabroek News recently learnt that the 300 trainers would be substituted for the community workers.
The draft stated that the initiative will be targeting teenagers, since they are usually the early adopters of technology.
The trainer ad stated that participants would have to serve as ICT trainers throughout Guyana and “will be required to commit one year of service in exchange for training and a laptop.” The certified trainers will be paid, though information pertaining to remuneration has not been made public.
The requirements include an Information Technology certificate, diploma or degree from a recognized institution; flexibility in working location, days and hours; ability and willingness to travel within a sub region; and a passion for ICT and how it will transform Guyana.
Further, participants must be able to communicate effectively and work with groups of up to 30 individuals; have strong interpersonal skills to work one on one; must be able to follow training material and flexibility to communicate with diverse individuals; and must be goal oriented both individually and nationally, according to the advertisement.
It states that the OLPF will ensure that families get the resources and training in basic computer skills that are essential for job-preparedness in the modern economy.
“By pairing earned laptops, ICT trainers and ICT infrastructure OLPF is designed as an affordable, common-sense approach to training and graduating family members for the information technology age and economy,” it read.
OLPF training will include classroom training of basic ICT skills, training on the application of ICT skills to specific jobs, and personalised training to ensure every individual is able to benefit from OLPF, the release continued.
“Qualified individuals will be offered no-cost training through a specialised programme to prepare them as Certified ICT Trainers to lead the OLPF initiative. OLPF will work to place ICT Trainers in regions near their home. All trainers joining the OLPF Team will be provided an OLPF netbook computer,” it added.
Interested persons should submit their CV with cover letter including current address and original community of origin via email to trainerjobs@olpf.org Application acceptance period will close October 29. Individuals selected will be notified to schedule an interview, the ad concluded.
