MUSCAT -- The Information Technology Authority (ITA) of Oman has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Salalah College of Technology (SCT) to undertake co-operative efforts to set up Community Knowledge Centres (CKC). The agreement was signed by Dr Hassan Kashoob, Dean of Salalah College of Technology, and Dr Salim al Ruzaiqi, CEO of ITA, at the ITA exhibition stand at the Salalah Tourism Festival grounds.
Establishment of the CKCs is part of the Community IT Training Project which falls under the umbrella of the 'National IT Training and Awareness Framework Initiative (NITTA). The NITTA is a government, nationwide eOman initiative aimed at developing ICT skills and increasing ICT awareness within the government.
The main objective of the Community IT Training Project is to train citizens of the community on IT basic skills in order to reduce IT illiteracy and to bridge the digital divide. In order to realise these objectives, ITA aims to establish several CKCs in different parts of the Sultanate. Each CKC will be equipped with the required computing and communication equipment and furnishings.
Further, Train The Trainer (TTT) programme will be provided to trainers, who are selected from a pool of unemployed IT graduates. These trainers will then offer IT training at the CKC using the Microsoft Digital literacy curriculum, to the rest of the community. The centres will provide job opportunities for unemployed by employing trained trainers to offer the IT trainings. Public can utilise the CKC centres at the college for accessing the Internet for availing e-services and participating in information technology training. This eOman initiative will further support members of the community to prepare for higher Digital Literacy Certifications.
By Staff Reporter
© Oman Daily Observer 2008
