ELIT: English Literacy using IT

What is ELIT?

ELIT stands for English Literacy using Information Technology.  It is basically a course in functional English literacy targeting learners with low academic level in English and Computer.

Why ELIT?

The National Productivity and Competitiveness Council (NPCC) has initiated the ELIT project to bridge the digital divide and to empower women in fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals. The aim of the ELIT project is to raise the level of functional* English of young girls and women so as to enable them develop their knowledge potential, communication abilities and participate effectively in society. The specific objectives for the ELIT course are:
 

• To provide young girls and women the possibility for further education and increase their employability.
• To improve their creative skills
• To empower them to take advantage of schemes promoting entrepreneurship development.
• To develop a productivity culture through non-formal education
• To facilitate inter-generation learning
• To bridge the digital divide by using ICT as a tool to make learning more interesting, interactive and flexible

ELIT falls within the core principles of the NPCC:

Empowerment through Education for
Employability and
Entrepreneurship Development
 

*A functionally literate person is one who can engage in all those activities in which literacy is required of his/her group and community and also for enabling him/her to continue to use reading, writing, and calculation for his/her own and the community's development".

How did the program start?

It is a project which was initiated with the seed grant from UNESCO in June 2005.  The project has been successfully pilot tested with 184 women aged 16 and above as the first target group in 14 women centres around the island thanks to the collaboration of the  Ministry of Women's Rights, Child Development, Family Welfare & Consumer Protection.   The ELIT programme was officially launched on the 5th April 2007 in the presence of the Hon Mrs Indranee SEEBUN, the Hon Dharambeer GOKHOOL,the Hon Etienne SINATAMBOU.  The ELIT programme is being scaled up thanks to the collaboration of various institutions and non-governmental organisations.

Why English Literacy is important?

• English is the official language of Mauritius and all documents for employment and entrepreneurs are in English.
• English is the medium used for most computer applications and is very popular on the internet
• English is the most widely spoken and written language in the world

Why should one follow the ELIT course?

To be initiated to computers as well as developing the following skills:

• Reading (includes writing and document use)
• Speaking (oral communication)
• Thinking (includes problem solving, decision making, critical thinking and finding information)
• Numeracy

 To become functionally literate in the following areas:

• Communication (in family, teams & using modern technology)
• Environment (nutrition, health & hygiene, good housekeeping, pollution and waste reduction)
• Finance (household budget & problems related to hire purchase)
• Entrepreneurship(Economic empowerment, creativity and innovation, resource mobilisation, marketing and research, networking, risk taking, knowledge management and globalisation)

To demonstrate your creative potential by developing your own portfolio and showcase your competencies

To get empowered with foundation for Lifelong Learning(L3) for effective participation in decision making process linked to income earning opportunities

Who can benefit from the training?

• Women aged 15 years old or above.
• Women who are not analphabet but have at least five years of primary schooling.
• Women who left school a while ago, though having an SC, find the ELIT course relevant.
• Women who have started their business and who find the English language as a barrier to running their business.

The ELIT course is being adapted to cater for the needs of the youth and people travelling abroad.

Who conduct the training?

All the trainers are teachers/IT professionals who have followed the ELIT train-the-trainer course run by the NPCC.

How long does it take to become functionally literate?

The duration of ELIT course is 120 hours which is spread over a period of 3 months.  The course is conducted during working hours, 3 sessions of 3 hours each per week.

What does one learn in these 40 sessions?

At the end of the course the participants will be able:

• To communicate in English (both written and spoken) on various subject matters including communication, environment, finance and entrepreneurship culture. 
• To use computers and conduct basic tasks like writing a document, compiling data on a spreadsheet, surfing the internet and writing an email. 
• To reproduce what they have learnt in a portfolio to demonstrate their competence

Do the participants get a certificate at the end of the programme?

A certificate of training will be issued to all the participants who attended at least 36 sessions of the course.

How much do the participants have to pay?

The course is offered at the subsidised rate of Rs 900 per participant.

How can one register for the program?

Anyone who wishes to enrol for the course must contact NPCC on 467 7700

Centres where ELIT will be carried out :

Municipal Council of Quatre Bornes:  The second batch will start on 16th January 2008 at 9:00 at the SSB Mediatheque, Belle Rose.  Courses will be conducted on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  The course will end tentatively on 17 April 2008.

Municipal Council of Vacoas/Phoenix: The second batch will start on 18th January 2008 at 9.00 at the Cyber Cafe of the Municipal Council of Vacoas/Phoenix. Courses will be conducted on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  The course will end tentatively on 18 April 2008.

Municipal Council of Curepipe: The first batch will start on 16th January 2008 at 9:00 at the Charles Renaud Complex, Eau Coulée.  Courses will be conducted on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  The course will end tentatively on 17 April 2008.

Other on-going projects on ELIT?

1.  ELIT train-the-trainer course has been conducted for a group of 12 trainers in Rodrigues thanks to the collaboration of Commission of Education, Commission of Women and Chambres des Entrepreneurs in Rodrigues and the assessment of the level  of English has been conducted thanks to the collaboration of the British Council Mauritius.

2.  ELIT has been adapted for Youth thanks to the collaboration of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.  The train-the-trainer course has been conducted and the next phase will be delivery of the training in youth centres early next year.

3.  The CATs Pailles Social Centre is also providing the ELIT course during week-ends.  The batch will be completed in April 2008

What women say about ELIT?

Cette formation m’a non seulement aidee a revoir mon anglais, mais m a egalement permis d apprendre l infomatique. J ai aussi appris faires des calculs, remplir des fiches bancaires, bien gerer mon temps. »
Artee Chamarsing
La vie catholique 16-22 Juin 2006