ITEP provides the largest network of ICDL Training/Test Centres in UAE

ITEP has now 25 approved ICDL testing centres in the UAE and 37 training centres, making it the largest ICDL provider in the UAE.

The expansion comes in response to the high demand received from Dubai Education Zone (DEZ) teachers for ITEP's ICDL training and testing.

Since its launch in February 2005, the ITEP initiative has trained 1224 DEZ staff, DEZ teachers and staff have shown a very high level of interest in the ICDL certification programme, and all 6000 of its staff are to complete the ICDL certification before the end of 2006.

In addition to the original ICDL testing labs operated by ITEP at Dubai Knowledge Village, accredited testing centres will be set up in either the schools in which DEZ teachers work or schools nearby to provide convenient access to ICDL examination facilities.

The recently ICDL accredited schools include Maria Al Qibtia Secondary School, Al Madina Al Munawara Secondary Girls School, Al Raya Secondary Girls School, Zabeel Secondary Girls School, Sukayna Bint Al Hussein Secondary Girls School, Alsafa Secondary School, Almaarif Secondary School, Dubai Secondary School, Alwaheeda Secondary School, and Mohammed Bin Rashid Secondary School.

"We are delighted to expand the ICDL programme to these new school locations," said Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Director ITEP.

"It is ITEP's aspiration to provide access to IT education for everyone and anywhere within the UAE. The accreditation of these new ICDL testing centres is another step towards this goal and we will continue to invest all our efforts into providing IT literacy for all. ITEP is committed to realize the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to raise IT literacy among UAE nationals."

"ITEP is an institution that shares our vision for an e-society, and has been at the forefront of the IT education drive in the UAE. The decision to grant test centre status to the 10 schools reflects the success of ICDL GCC Foundation's partnership with ITEP, and strengthens our mutual association," said Jamil Ezzo, Director General, ICDL GCC Foundation. "The ICDL network expansion move will ensure the spread of IT literacy across Dubai, bringing the ICDL benefits not only to teachers, but also to students and parents".

ITEP is a non-profit organisation established by the Government of Dubai for the enhancement of IT in education. It is now the largest IT training provider in the UAE and has trained around 76,000 people since its inception. ITEP has provided training to students, government workers, teachers and those with special needs.

The International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) is a globally recognised credential that certifies an individual as competent in using computers. Accepted as the standard for computer literacy in over 140 countries in 36 languages including Arabic, the ICDL is designed for a person to 'drive' a computer with the same ease as they might drive a car. There are more than one million certified and four million participants in the ICDL programme around the world today.