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In the world of yesteryear, the qualifications for entry into the exclusive club of the learned class was proficiency in the classics and the liberal arts. Classical education which was designed for the sons and daughters of the British aristocracy was transplanted wholesale to its colonial empire. The landed gentry and the aristocarcy were known to have a distinct aversion to labour of any kind.

Today any country which entertains this luxury- exposing their brightest sons and daughters to classical scholarship- will be sidelined in a world where technological innovations are shortlived and the registration of patents translates into the improvement of the foreign exchange earnings of a country. This year's innovations become obsolete the following year because the leading countries in world have taken a conscious decision to invest billions of dollars in research and development to boost exports and earn foreign exchange.

Countries as diverse as India and Ireland now spend millions of dollars annually on their brightest students to ensure that they are on the cutting edge of modern technology. Thomas Friedman in his book "The World is Flat" reported that Ireland had set up science foundations to give grants to any researcher from anywhere in the world who had an idea that he or she would pursue in Ireland and that might one day produce a company or a product.

Addressing the issue of the development of modern technology in India following its independence in 1947, Friedman said: " In 1951, to his enduring credit Jawahalal Nehru, India's first prime minister, set up the first of India's seven Institutes of Technology in the eastern city of Kharagpur.

The author further pointed out that in the 55 years since then, hundreds of thousands of Indians have competed to gain entry and then graduate from these institutes.

He stressed that the institutes became islands of excellence by not allowing the general debasement of the Indian system to lower their exacting standards.

According to Friedman, a student could not bribe his or her way to get into the institutes. Today, India has become one of the leading countries in Information Technology with some of its brightest sons heading some of the leading firms in such cities as Mumbai.

On a smaller scale and limited financial resources, the Owen Arthur administration has sought to usher Barbados into the new technological age. Since assuming office the current administration has sought to encourage innovation with the establishment of the Prime Minister's Award for Innovation which carries a top prize of $75 000.

The Community Technology Programme and the much maligned Edu-Tech programmes must be seen in that light. Government has sought to bring the modern technology to the communities and the secondary schools. It has recognised the critical importance of every citizen having access to the new technology. Government has established Resource Centres across the country where ordinary Barbadians of all ages can become computer literate.
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