72,000 families in HK to benefit from ICT project

The Hong Kong government is expecting its five-year internet learning support programme launched Thursday to help no less than 72,000 families in the next 18 months, Stephen Mak, Government Chief Information Officer (GCIO) said.
Funded by the Office of the GCIO, the “i Learn at home” programme aims to help needy families acquire web-based learning providing them with affordable computer equipment and Internet services. OGCIO has engaged two non-profit organisations - eInclusion Foundation Ltd (using the brand name “Net-Com rock n’ roll”) and Internet Learning Resource Centre Ltd (using the brand name “WebOrganic”) - to implement the programme. “Net-Com rock n’ roll” project offers students a notebook computer and 6Mbps broadband service on a three-year contract. Students will only be charged with HK$10.70 (US$1.37) monthly to use a new computer with broadband access. This usually costs HK$1,400 (US$180) a year, but eligible families will pay HK$128 (US$16) with a government subsidy of HK$1,300 (US$167). Mak said the programme facilitates access to IT and the Internet, and the associated educational opportunity.
“Web-based learning has become an integral part of education and a way of life for students. The Government recognises the importance of providing suitable Internet learning opportunities for students in need in order to mitigate the impact of the digital divide on the quality of learning.” Primary and secondary school students on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance and those who pass the existing means test for financial assistance under the Student Financial Assistance Agency are eligible. Applications are being accepted from families in eight districts in New Territories East, Kowloon East and Hong Kong Island East. An estimated 410,000 students from 300,000 families are eligible in the school year 2011-2012. And additional 112, 000 students from 82, 000 families will be eligible in the following four years.
The two implementers will set up 24 service centres to provide economical Internet access services; affordable computer equipment with flexible payment options; technical support through hotlines and help desks; and training for students and parents.
The implementers are each required to provide a minimum of 360 training sessions to eligible families and students in the next 18 months. “We expect…at least 85 per cent of families having no access to the Internet at the time of registration would set up Internet connections at home after joining the programme,” Mak added. The OGCIO will monitor the implementation arrangements through a programme steering committee led by the GCIO and quarterly operational and financial reports from the implementers.

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