The latest Bermudian graduates of the International Computers Driving License (ICDL) were awarded certificates for completing the internationally recognised programme yesterday.

Carl Gibbons, Nova Griffiths, Peter Longworth, Deborah Moura, Jason Pimental and Zina Tucker have been studying for the IDCL since October under the guidance of Michael Rhodes of independent computer training centre Media Tek.

Mr. Rhodes was joined by Director of ICDL Bermuda Dr. Charles Finn yesterday to congratulate the students and award certificates.

“It's very comprehensive,” Mr. Rhodes said of the course. “It covers everything people need to become computer literate,” he said.

Dr. Finn said that the Bermuda College has been offering the course since September 2000 and to date 61 students have attained their IDCL and another 400 are currently studying for the certification.

The certification is the recognised computer literary standard by the governments of 57 countries and is the only recognised IT qualification accepted for all countries in the European Union.

Dr. Finn said: “Education and qualifications will be the keys to surviving Bermuda's changing economy. If you are now looking for a job or are worried you might be out of one soon, now is the time to learn about or upgrade your computer skills. IDCL teaches the basic skills you will need in order to confidently use a computer both in the work place or at home.”

There are training and testing centres all over the world including the US, Canada, Australia, Honk Kong, Argentina, Brazil and Chile, and the list of governments around the world that consider the programme the gold standard for certifying basic computer skills continues to grow said Dr. Finn.

Dr. Finn added that an IDCL earned in Bermuda is recognised in all other countries offering the programme.

In Hamilton training sites have been set up at Media Tek, Gateway Computers and C.A.R.E. Computing and around the Island the programme is offered through the Community Education and Development Programmes and Bermuda College.

Saltus Grammar School was the first school on the Island to incorporate the ICDL programme into their curriculum and the Department of Education and the XL Education Initiative have been approached about ICDL inclusion at CedarBridge Academy and the Berkeley Institute. Discussions are also ongoing with Bermuda High School for Girls, Mt. St. Agnes Academy and the Bermuda Institute.

Dr. Finn added: “ICDL is an excellent training tool and is now being taught at the Co-Ed Correctional Facility in Ferry Reach. Discussions are underway to offer ICDL at Westgate for the inmates to gain knowledge and skills, as well as the accompanying self-confidence, to seek employment on their release.”

And for all Bermudians who complete their certification, the ICDL programme is subsidised by a grant to the Computer Society of Bermuda from the National Training Board.

The ICDL programme consists of seven independent modules, each dealing with a separate application of computer use such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation tools, file management, and information networks. There is a test following each module and a certificate is awarded after all seven modules have been successfully completed.

Dr. Finn also said anyone interested can buy a workbook and work through the course on their own before taking the tests at their convenience.

The testing can be done at any testing site on the Island, or at your place of business and can be written in 25 languages including Braille.

Dr. Finn said the youngest person to attain the IDCL was a ten-year-old boy in South Africa while the oldest was an 85-year-old grandmother from Sweden.

For more information contact Dr. Charles Finn, ICDL Bermuda, at 292-3302 or through e-mail at finncsb.bm, or log on to www.icdl.org.