Computer literacy rates are becoming increasingly important as technology around the world continuing to grow. This is particularly important in countries like Jamaica, where computer literacy is not prevalent throughout the nation. According to the Jamaican 
government, Minister of Mining and Telecommunications, Derrick Smith, has suggested that Jamaicans prioritize computer literacy in the near future, as it is a primary way in which the country will thrive economically. He also warned that individuals who are not computer literate will likely unfortunately be limited in their endeavors.
Despite the issue of lack of computer literacy in Jamaica, there are several efforts under way to combat the problem. For example, the Enrichment Initiative to Increase Literacy at the Primary School Level is aiming to achieve 100% literacy by 2015 (https://www.usaid.gov/documents/1862/jamaica-enrichment-initiative-increase-literacy-primary-school-level). The program is a nationwide Information and Communication (ICT) partnership with the Ministry of Education and is addressing extreme difficulties that students are having in grades one to three with regard to literacy challenges.
According U.S. Aid for the American people, these are the following program activities:
- Establish 35 Enrichment Centers
- Distribute 60 Mobile Enrichment Carts
- Train 190 MoE Teachers
- Reach 40,000 students using either an EC or and MEC over three years
- Engage 5,000 parents to support and sustain student's performance Carts
While this program is ambitious and the strategy seems sound in order to achieve the desired goals, it might be worthwhile to focus on technology as a central tool in achieving literacy. For example, by using one computer in order to teach literacy, multiple teachers and students can use the same technology to access an unlimited source of learning tools via the Internet. While literacy and computer literacy problems in Jamaica remain a central issue, nonprofit organizations that donate to these countries as well as individuals who contribute their own personal time to these initiatives will be a tremendous help in the near future.
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