The Office of the President (OP) has begun advertising for ICT trainers to fill positions on the US$30 million One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) project as the government aims for a year-end roll out, which will see the instruments eventually given to some 90,000 families.
According to a release seen by this newspaper, participants will serve as ICT trainers throughout Guyana and “will be required to commit one year of service in exchange for training and a laptop.”
The requirements include an Information Technology certificate, diploma or degree from a recognised 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 release.
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.
Stabroek News learnt that the certified trainers will be paid, though information pertaining to remuneration has not been made public.
Interested persons should submit their CVs with cover letter including current address and community of origin via email to trainerjobs@olpf.org.
The applications’ acceptance period will close on October 29. Individuals selected will be notified to schedule an interview, the release concluded.
In July, President Bharrat Jagdeo announced that his government would pledge some US$30 million over the next three years to purchase laptops for at least 90,000 poor families countrywide, an initiative many have dismissed as an election campaign gimmick.
Speaking at the launch of GuyExpo on September 30, he said government was looking to start rolling out the project within the next three months.
Stabroek News last month reported that the project was in its final planning stage and that distribution of the netbooks was likely be linked to ongoing community development projects.
According to information from a source familiar with the initiative, a final implementation summary was being prepared before the details are made public.
The initiative will be run by 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 Strategy, according to a document seen by this newspaper.
A draft of the project plan suggests that the distribution of the laptops will be managed through current aid/volunteer organisations and government ministries working on development projects in communities and that they will not be given directly to families.
It also suggests that the initiative will be targeting teenagers, since they are usually the early adopters of technology.
“Family members, especially teen males, participating in community groups focusing on economic development, capacity building and education, collaborating with project partners [are] the primary target[s] of OLPF laptop distribution. This primary OLPF participant is expected to bring the computer experience and learning to [his/her] family,” the document said.
It adds that every laptop provided will be internet ready for the first year and that families will be required to repay the investment through community service. “Each OLPF community project will include community projects that will benefit the entire community as repayment for the laptop,” it stated.
