A World Bank-sponsored distance learning project, being offered through the University of Technology’s (UTech) Technology Innovation Centre (TIC), will offer greater access to educational courses through the use of technology.

The programme, known as the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN), was launched at UTECH on Monday. It offers a combination of distance learning technologies and methods aimed at facilitating timely and cost-effective knowledge sharing, consulting, co-ordination and training.

Through GDLN, individuals, groups and organisations within the public, private and non-governmental sectors can design and deliver courses, seminars, business meetings and conferences on a range of issues.

GDLN centres around the world have facilities for video conferencing, web-based learning and face-to-face interaction and also offer logistical support. Speaking at Monday’s launch, state minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture Donald Rhodd said the initiative would contribute towards extending the reach of more traditional teaching methods to improve the access and quality of education to more Jamaicans.

He noted that the greatest challenge, if education were to be the main driver of national development and sustainable growth, was to facilitate shared resources through the use of technology, especially for those who could not access regular tertiary training.

“Logistically, the University of Technology and all our tertiary institutions do not have the resources on all their campuses across the island to accommodate the many applicants who want to pursue tertiary and higher education,” he said.

“I am sure, however, that our tertiary institutions are serious about research and development. Therefore, we must join hands and work together, in order to realise the concept of wall-less classrooms and or conference rooms. It is necessary that we develop these new relationships and environments to enable the facilitation of meaningful knowledge-sharing with other institutions and organisations across the globe.”

The government and his ministry, the state minister added, were committed to the use of technology to drive education in Jamaica to provide for “quality, access, equity and relevance in the system”.

According to senior director in the science and technology ministry Roland Phillips, the government is now implementing a major e-learning project targeting grade seven to 11 students, out-of-school youngsters and adult learners.

The project, he explained, involved the development of a core set of instructional materials for teachers and students in five main subject areas: Mathematics, English, Integrated Science, Social Studies and Information Technology.

“The strategy is to develop high-quality content in selected subjects for teachers and students…, drawing on information and communications technology as a key instrument in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of both teaching and learning for the in-school population and out-of-school youngsters and adult learners,” said Phillips.

He also noted that such initiatives were critical if Jamaica were to successfully compete in the imminent Caribbean Single Market and Economy CSME and the Free Trade Area of the Americas. The population, he stressed, has to be properly educated and adequately skilled.

UTech president Dr Rae Davis also spoke at the launch and commented on how the internet and other emerging technologies had “opened the gateway for the delivery of alternative forms to traditional learning in a very cost-effective way”, while thanking the GDLN for partnering with UTech as the first English-speaking affiliate of the network.

The launch also received greetings via video conferencing from World Bank leaders from Washington DC and Castries, St Lucia.