A GINA Feature
THE world over is now dependent on people having knowledge and skills making them capable of handling the constant advancements in technology. Having such skills make individuals more marketable in the world of work, and on a more personal note, enhances people’s well-being. The Government of Guyana has acknowledged the need for all citizens to become computer literate so as to keep up with technological advancements. This awareness has resulted in the provision of computers in primary and secondary schools, thereby giving youths an opportunity to access training.
So as not to leave out anyone, irrespective of age, gender or ethnicity, a special programme was developed by former President, Bharrat Jagdeo  – the One Laptop Per Family programme (OLPF), which has as its priority single parents, the differently-abled and low income families in the first phase.
Once the programme is implemented as expected, it will lead to a major transformation in the lives of 90,000 Guyanese. 

OLPF- the beginning
This bold initiative is projected to equip the entire population with computer literacy skills over a five year period. It is being executed at a cost of $1.8B, and will see the initial distribution of 90,000 laptops, free of cost, to families across the country, beginning with mostly poor families.
Information Communication Technology (ICT) is viewed as a knowledge based sector which has high value in today’s world, given the volume of wealth it holds for the future, and it is one of the new sectors expected to generate greater disposable income for Guyanese and lead to the creation of thousands of jobs.
It is the government’s hope that the laptop will be used for its intended purpose, since it is an economic tool and educational instrument.

Guyana’s response
Following the programme’s official launch in January this year, and the establishment of the OLPF headquarters at 161 Lamaha Street, Georgetown, the programme subsequently entered the public interface mode when application forms were distributed to the general public in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10. As a result, over 44,000 applications were received for phase one.
Following the public interface component, the verification component was activated to ensure applicants satisfied the criteria of earning a monthly income less than $50,000, and being a single parent.

Trainers
The first leg of orientation sessions for persons who applied to be trainers in the OLPF project commenced with persons from Region 3, and followed with the other regions. The sessions imbued in the trainers the knowledge they require about the project and the modules to be delivered. Training is in progress across the country.

Student-based component
In July, the programme evolved into a critical phase whereby students who were part of the school-based pilot project were given the go-ahead to take the laptops from their respective training hubs into their homes.
The Abrams Zuil Secondary School on the Essequibo Coast, Volunteer Youth Corps in Durban Backlands, St. Francis community developers in Berbice, and hinterland students of the Amerindian hostel were targeted.

Arrival of laptops
The arrival of the first shipment of 5000 Haier Netbooks, valued at more than US$1.4M, from China in October, is a clear reflection of government delivering its promise to Guyanese.
Government procured 27,000 laptops from Haier of China which was awarded the tender for the supply of 31,000 laptops, valued US$8.5M. Over a two-year period the targeted 90,000 laptops will be distributed as the government strives to ensure every Guyanese becomes computer literate.

First distribution
Upon arrival of the first set of laptops, 1000 Guyanese were among the first to receive their laptops at the National Cultural Centre from then President Bharrat Jagdeo. Since then, distribution has been ongoing across the country and several ministers have been involved in the process. Thus far, recipients in Regions 3, 4, 6 and 10 have begun receiving their devices.

Hubs
With their laptops in their possession, the recipients subsequently commenced their training at the community learning centres set up at various locations in eight of the ten administrative regions.
Through the hubs, there will be the continued distribution of laptops to recipients, and training delivered in the effective and efficient use of the device by a trainer.
The centres, commonly referred to as ICT hubs, are equipped with electricity and internet connectivity, and will see recipients being trained for a minimum of 10 hours to proficiently use their equipment, while having access to the internet.
The learning centres include Charity Secondary School, Aurora Secondary School, Region 2; Patentia Community Centre, Bagotville National Library, Region 3; the Volunteer Youth Corp, Durban Backlands; Lusignan/Good Hope Learning Centre, Region 4; Bath Skills Training Centre, Region 5; #68 village- Roadside Baptist Church Skills Training Centre, #58 Village- Swing Star Community Developers, Region 6; St. John’s the Baptist Primary School Region 7 and SOM Skills Training, Young and Thoughtful Youth Club, Region 10.
Additionally, this year, two hundred youth clubs will be established across the country. Youth leaders have already been recruited, and will be tasked with designing exciting ICT related activities that will see the youths gainfully using their new skills while enhancing them.

Future
It is expected that in the coming five years, Guyana’s landscape will change drastically, particularly since most of the population will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to drive the country’s knowledge-based economy. The realisation of this vision will inevitably take Guyana into a new paradigm of prosperity.
Through the ever-evolving ICT sector, which is being esteemed as the cornerstone of Guyana’s revolutionary transformation, there will be a catalyzing of the private sector investment, rapid growth in the business sector, and the number of persons employed will double.
Importantly, Guyanese residing in remote communities will be enabled to access essential services through the internet.  
The ICT sector has been acknowledged as a transformational one; and to realise this potential, government has pursued numerous efforts to develop the infrastructure to welcome it. This is evident in its investment in a fibre optic cable from Brazil, for cheaper and more reliable bandwidth to internet access, provision of computers at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, and ICT training for teachers. Guyanese from the diaspora have also contributed to this technological thrust by providing computers and learning software to several schools around the country.