Teachers urged to bridge digital divide

Nadisha Hunter, Staff Reporter

Doha, Qatar:

PROFESSOR GOSSETT Oliver, vice-president of the University of Technology (UTech), has said the inability of some educators to master modern technology is adversely affecting the decision of students to pursue studies in vocational areas.

Oliver is one of the education specialists from several countries attending the three-day World Innovation Summit for Education at the Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha, Qatar.

His comments came after Khozema Shipchandler, regional vice-president of the American multinational General Electric, indicated that there is a resistance to certain type of jobs due to a lack of awareness.

Participating in a panel dis-cussion on 'Education and the Workforce: Matching Skills and Needs', Shipchandler said more needs to be done to sensitise students about technology. He said employers are finding that many persons leave educational institutions lacking training in technology, especially digital technology.

Reacting to the discussions, Oliver told The Gleaner that "we have a problem in Jamaica on the vocational side.

"We need to look at the quality of jobs that are being offered in vocation education on the demand side. On the supply side, we also need to look at how we are teaching, particularly in this digital age."

Oliver said there are a number of teachers who cannot navigate the new digital era that is needed for vocational education.