CARIBBEAN/A&B: islanders utilise OAS online services for distance learning programs

Antiguans & Barbudans utilise OAS Online Services
 
Wednesday July 30 2003

Students and professionals in Antigua & Barbuda lead their counterparts in 
the OECS countries in the utilisation of the OAS online service, known as the 
Portal of the Americas.

This online tool consists of a database of over 4,500 educational distance 
learning programmes, scholarships, news and events, and links of interests. 
It also offers additional services, which include digital libraries, academic 
networks, multimedia laboratories and other personalised services.

Starret Greene, minister counsellor in the Permanent Mission of Antigua & 
Barbuda to the OAS, reported that during the period January to June 2003, 
Antiguans & Barbudans made 49,168 visits to the Portal. 

Greene said that the months of February and June recorded the highest number 
of visits, with 12,544 and 11,088 respectively.

The minister counsellor also observed that Antiguans & Barbudans have, in a 
very short time, become highly computer literate and Internet savvy - a 
development which he said was due to the deliberate policies of the 
Government of Antigua & Barbuda to promote and to facilitate the use of 
technology as integral to improving the lives of all its citizens.

Greene also noted that the Government's emphasis on providing training to 
students, professionals and government workers through local institutions 
such as the Antigua & Barbuda International Institute of Technology (ABIIT) 
has begun to reap dividends in terms of creating a knowledge-base society, 
increasing productivity in the workplace and connecting Antiguans & Barbudans 
with the rest of the world, through Information and Communication Technology 
(ICT).

The Portal of the Americas (www.educoas.org) is an initiative of the 
IACD/OAS, and operates with a grant from the Co-operation Fund of the United 
States in response to the Third Summit of the Americas.
 

Source: Antigua Sun