The goal of the project ICT education for everyone is to increase the level of citizens’ ICT skills. The project includes free ICT courses, free Internet access and e-learning.

Policy Context

The Free ICT courses initiative aims to make smaller the digital gap between the Republic of Macedonia and the EU countries. The initiative has been elaborated in the national IT strategy 2005-2007.

Description of the way to implement the initiative

Students are grouped into groups of at most 15 students. Each student works individually. Each classroom must have at least 15 computers. The covered material ranges from computer basics to Internet and the most popular colaboration tools on it. Since Microsofts technology is dominating in the country, students will learn the basics of the windows operating system and the microsoft's office suite. Each student will receive a printed book, that covers the course material. The book will be availabe for download, too. At the end, each student will be tested with the e-Testing system and will receive pass or fail grade. After successfull colmpletition of the course students will receive a certificate for basic computer skills. This certificate can be used as a proof for having basic computer skills when applying for a job.

Technology solution

The technology choice for these courses is the microsoft's windows operating system together with the microsoft office suite.

Technology choice: Proprietary technology

Main results, benefits and impacts

This project has two aims: - increase the IT literacy of the older population and - helping the younger population to succeed in their careers Initial expectations were that around 15,000 citizens will register, but the real number of registered citizens was 8,000. One explanation is that the digital gap is closing, but another is that the initiative failed to reach the entire population.

Return on investment

Return on investment: Not applicable / Not available

Lessons learnt

In general, the Free ICT courses for everyone has sparked greater than expected interes among the registered students. People are very positive for governments initiatives for improving the digital literacy Senior citizens usually lack proper IT training, hence they rarely use computer or use a computer with a help of a younger person. Since most of them have relatives living abroad, they are all aware about the advantages of the new technologies and they all would like to use the new forms of communications to get in touch with their relatives. Interestingly enough, the free ICT courses are interesting for the youger population, too. Unemployed people and people seeking employment in the public administration hope that this course will give them the minimum skills needed for work in the public sector.

Scope: National