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3.07.2008

Kazakhstan to Tackle Computer Illiteracy

The state program - Reduction of Information Inequality for 2007-2009 - intends to reach the 20% level of computer literacy among Kazakh citizens and Internet users. It is aimed to receive 15 bln tenge ($11,57 mln) from budget. Around 200 thousand people received computer education, while the target number is 2,2mln. Monitoring the implementation of the project, Fond Soros, concludes that during the first year of the project only 10% of the considered population has been affected, and 80% of population has never heard of it. There are also hardships with evaluation of the program affects. It is impossible to track the actual money allocation and get quality information about the results. Thus, the quantitative information provided by the government is not trust worthy and the process is lacking transparency. The program is lacking educational information in the regions that would confirm the opportunity and explain the benefits of ICT use on actual examples: in newspapers, TV, and posters. The goal is to offer computer classes for free. However, the fact that the classrooms were empty during the summer period, while the summer break for students, mean that the students were unaware of such opportunity. Thus, the article shows that it is important for policy makers to enforce implementation of the program in Kazakh massive campaign to eliminate computer illiteracy. Source: CNews, 03.04.08, Link to article in Russian: http://internet.cnews.kz/news/top/index.shtml?2008/03/04/104529

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