Human Resources, Education and Public Opinion Building

Facilitating education about, and access to, telematics networks and services, such as the Internet service connection, must become a high priority on the development agendas of governments, especially in developing countries and countries in transition, as they are essential prerequisites for ensuring equitable access to information.

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION ON ICT

Education for information and communication technology could begin at early age and continues up to the higher educational level, also including non-formal education, a field in which associations and non-governmental organizations play a major role. The depth of the treatment given to these depends on the educational level concerned and the concepts are imparted following differing teaching approaches.

Formal education is the sector in which the key resources are being promoted in the world of information and communication technology. However, it is absolutely essential to link such action to all schemes being carried out in the informal education sector in order to integrate all aspects of the development of ICT skill.

In addition to formal education in which local associations, non-governmental organizations and governments cooperate closely, the authority should introduce other strategy which often result in the implementation of projects aimed at the introduction of information and communication technology, the training of teachers and teacher-trainers at all levels and the production of training materials and teaching aids tailored to the local content. These strategies will vary from one country to another.

The training of teachers and educational personnel at all levels is a key factor in promoting education for information and communication technology. Accordingly, the authority attach paramount importance to such training, which is provided through seminars and workshops in collaboration with national institutions, non-governmental organizations, and international partners working in this field. It may take the form of initial training, and is provided by higher-level teacher training institutes as well as by universities. Its duration may vary from one country to another.

The authority should ensure that all ICT education and training within their national jurisdictions includes training on ethical awareness and standards and not just on technical competence. The focus should be on the pre-requisite of developing and nurturing “human infrastructure”, including integrated education, ICT training, and skill-based programs.

Legislative and social provisions should make on behalf of vulnerable sectors of the population (physically and mentally disabled groups, refugees, immigrants, ethnic minorities, etc.). Ministries of Education, National Commissions, non-governmental organizations, and local associations carry out programmes to promote the right to ICT education for the most disadvantaged population categories in order to provide them with the means of becoming integrated in the information society and taking part in all activities. It should however be noted that, in most countries, such provisions are not always reflected in effective implementation measures, and conditions of access to education for such population groups remain difficult.

Networking among the various national and regional institutions for purpose of pooling information and experience is another effective means of promoting education for a culture of information society.

The authority should promote, at every stage of education, an active civic training which will enable every person to gain knowledge of the method of operation and the work of information and communication technology.

More and more local associations and non-governmental organizations should work hand in hand with the authority in order to increase public awareness on ICT and to provide for the training for trainers.

The development of national, regional, and international networking arrangements serves to strengthen information pooling and the exchange of documentation and research findings on different subjects and aspects of education for a culture of information and communication technology society.

Role of the Government

• To prepare such education system so the people are able to utilize the ICT system. Although nowadays user interface of ICT system has already been developed very friendly, introduction is still needed for people who never look at and touch the system at all. They have to be educated how to utilize and get benefit from ICT system, and the government should initiate the education from the basic.

• Campaign the familiarization the usage of information and communication technology.

• Increase to public awareness of the importance of information and communication technology.

• Cooperation with local association, non-governmental organizations, and international institutions to provide training for the teachers and training materials.

PUBLIC OPINION BUILDING

In order to gain participation from the society toward improving e-readiness and adoption of Internet, there should be a conscious and comprehensive effort to educate the public. Various channels can be utilized for public education. Traditional media such as newspaper, radio and television as well as mass gathering are typical. Other more subtle channel is through education institution formally or informally through public seminar or conference. Lastly, Internet itself can become a medium for public education in a form that is more interactive than traditional channel.

The objective of public education and opinion building at this level is more toward introduction to the Internet and minimizing resistance to adopt it. It also can serve as means to spread the knowledge of information technology (IT). Younger generation typically more receptive to new ideas as well as more skillful in adopting new technology. Therefore, the effort should be mostly directed toward the young population particularly school, university and young professional. Additional audiences that need to be educated are decision-maker in government and public institution. They have to be receptive, as later they could become role model for the youngster to improve e-readiness.

Barrier of this level is mostly introducing new concept to the masses. The message has to be packaged in form that would generate least resistance and encourage people to join in the bandwagon. Therefore, analogy toward common term is helpful. However, as majority of the Internet sites are still in English, care should be taken not to translate the term into local language but rather make the terms closer and familiar to the people. This is very difficult and delicate effort but success in it is indeed rewarding. Example of it is the Japanese ways to absorb western culture and its language. They pick similar sound (sound-alike word) in their language for English words to absorb it. This does not mean that every county has to follow this example but rather encourage each country to find unique way more suited to them.