Government to boost female involvement in ICT, STEM

Senator Dana Morris Dixon, minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for skills and digital transformation, says the Government is looking to increase the number of women engaged in the information and communications technology (ICT) and the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) sectors.

"Women are very much under-represented in ICT and STEM. They make up only 28 per cent of the workforce and here in Jamaica, we are striving to shift that balance, aiming for a future where our daughters stand equally with our sons in the digital space," said Morris Dixon. She was speaking during the recent Robotics Symposium at the Heart College of Innovation and Technology in Montego Bay, St James, on April 25, which was observed as International Girls in ICT Day.

Morris Dixon encouraged young women to seek to develop an interest in the robotics field early, pointing them to the HEART College's ICT lab.

"Even though our mandate is 17 and above, we understand that if you don't have the exposure from early, then you are being left behind. We understand that at 17, you have done a lot of learning, and we want to ensure that when you come to HEART and do the other programmes, you are equipped with what you need to go forward," she said. Morris Dixon said the Government will maintain its commitment to prepare future-ready Jamaicans.

"We are indeed committed to bringing the tools of productivity and prosperity to all Jamaicans, irrespective of where they are," said Morris Dixon.

Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon urged citizens to take advantage of the potential opportunities and benefits to be derived from engaging in robotics. He also opined that robotics can bridge the gap in manpower and markets by offering improved quality and productivity, resulting in a more globally competitive ecosystem.