Rosey calls on single mothers to equip themselves with ICT skills
MIRI: Single mothers are urged to equip themselves with basic skills of information and communication technology ( ICT) to prepare themselves for opportunities in the digital economy.
Assistant Minister of Women, Family and Childhood Development Rosey Yunus noted a Swinburne University of Technology study in 2016 found that, among the factors that hinder single mothers to work is the lack of skills, particularly in ICT.
She said the government was looking seriously at the matter and wanted single mothers to attend relevant courses so that they would not be left behind and be able to improve their income.
“Therefore, we recommend that the Sarawak Women’s and Family Department (JWKS) expand this kind of program to help more single mothers. At the same time get feedback from the grassroots on how we can improve the programme so that it is really beneficial for the participants,” she said when officiating at a Basic ICT Skills Course for Single Mothers in Sarawak ( ICT4IT) Series 2/17 here yesterday.
The course was organised by JWKS in collaboration with the Sarawak Single Mothers’ Association ( Pitsa) and the Federation of Chinese Asssociations Sarawak Miri branch.
Also present was Single Mothers’ Association Miri president Horry Bujang and ICT4IT coordinator Un Siew Yien.
Rosey believed that many single mothers, especially in Miri and Bekenu, wanted to participate in the programme but not everybody had the opportunity to attend it due to their work and transportation problem.
“We hope this course will give participants a good start in addition to getting their feedbacks for future programmes,” said Rosey.
She also advised single mothers who have yet to register as Pitsa members to do so in order to facilitate them in the development and support programmes.
A total of 25 single mothers participated in the course from Oct 23 to 26.
The course aimed at helping single mothers increase and sharpen ICT skills, increase knowledge and provide exposures to online businesses, increase income through online businesses and help single mothers to become more dedicated.
At the event, Rosey presented a grant worth RM5, 000 to Pitsa Miri branch and another RM5, 000 to Pitsa Sarawak.