ICTA BPO program in Jaffna successful

The Information Technology Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) program organised by the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) created huge interest among the student population of the North.

This was shown by more than 4000 students who participated in the three-day IT-BPO career guidance program ICTA held at the Jaffna Vembady Girls' High School the last three days of last month.

Out of the 4000 odd students from grade 9 to 12 who participated in the program the girls slightly outnumbered the boys.

The overall keen interest of participants showed that IT-BPO as a career on a par with or higher than professions like those of doctor, engineer or accountant was an attractive proposition.

The program seemed to have targeted the ideal group by focusing on the O/L, who formed 60 per cent of the participants, to pre-final A/L students.

These participants in the career guidance seminar conducted in the auditorium of the Jaffna Vembady Girls' High School held parallel to the Jaffna Mini Infotel exhibition evinced great enthusiasm.

"The students came both from schools in the Jaffna district and from distant places like Vavuniya and Mannar with IDPs among them. Yet they all manifested a remarkable interest.

"They were quick to ask questions and raise their hands quickly when invited to offer answers or suggestions" an ICTA official remarked.

The program included attendance by participants in groups at a one-hour seminar per group followed by visit to career guidance booths where nearly one-and-one career guidance was given by counsellors from the Education Ministry and the Industry.

There were five one-hour seminars each of the three days.

The counsellors who were young yet well trained comprised 13 from the Northern Province Education Ministry offices in Jaffna such as Kilinochchi, Thenmaraachchi, Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya and 11 from the IT industry in Jaffna.