Over two hundred vocational high school seniors have been awarded scholarships to pursue European Computer Driving License (ECDL) certification by the USAID-funded Capacity Development Program (CDP)

Over two hundred vocational high school seniors have been awarded scholarships to pursue European Computer Driving License (ECDL) certification by the USAID-funded Capacity Development Program (CDP). Recognized as the premier computer literacy certification globally, ECDL demonstrates full competence in the use of a personal computer and common computer applications. Through the CDP program, fifteen vocational information technology (IT) teachers have been certified to provide training to high schoolers at fourteen different locations over the next nine months. Those who pass the ECDL modules at the end of the training will not only have increased their computer fluency, but will also ensure improved employment and higher-education prospects.

In cooperation with the Management Center of the Mediterranean and the local ECDL testing facility at Eastern Mediterranean University and with the support of the vocational and technical faculties, the CDP ECDL program got under way on October 12, 2009. Response to the promotional sessions organized in all of the participating schools was overwhelming with several applications received for each of the limited positions in the program. Students were chosen according to set criteria with emphasis placed on their motivation for seeking ECDL certification.

Like all U.S. government programs in Cyprus, CDP is aimed at facilitating reunification of the island. CDP will address skills gaps in critical areas—such as computer literacy—and is designed to complement other donor programs by providing capacity development and training.