Singapore ICT capability projects to help more citizens

The Singapore Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) is furthering its drive to help the low income households to own computers and elder citizens to gain ICT skills.

In November, IDA will raise the income cap to S$2,700 (US$ 2,140) to enable more low-income homes to own a brand new computers at an affordable price.

IDA has already assisted more than 31,000 households whose gross monthly income did not exceed S$2,500 (US$1,980) to acquire affordable computers. The move to encourage computer ownership among needy families started in 1999.

Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing said more help will also be extended to needy students from households with an income of S$1,800 (US$1430) and below.

Chan said schools will be given more autonomy from the third quarter of this year to buy devices and software to suit the specific learning needs of students from low-income families.

Meanwhile, Chan noted that there has been growing interest in IDA’s the Silver Infocomm Initiative (SII) which provides IT training and hubs programme for seniors.

SII aims to bridge the digital divide among 45,000 senior citizens aged 50 and above through addressing their differences in educational background, language and IT competencies.

Earlier this year, The Ministry of Information, Communication and Arts raised the initial funding for SII from S$2.5 (US$ 197,000) to S$4.2 million (US$ 331,000).

Through SII, seniors receive technical training at Silver Infocomm Junctions or senior-friendly and conveniently located IT learning hubs that provide elders with customised IT training at affordable rates.

Since 2007, nearly 45,000 senior citizens have benefited from the various courses. “The IDA says it wants to make it convenient for senior citizens to enhance their IT skills.

So it has added three more community clubs to its list of silver infocomm junctions where senior citizens can go there and enhance themselves with a whole array of IT skills,” said Chan.

With the growing popularity of tablet PCs, the IDA has extended its Silver Infocomm PC Incentive Scheme to cover tablet PCs. IDA will also introduce iPad courses on October.