Govt starts computer literacy program<\/p>\n
Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam, Riau<\/p>\n
The government launched here on Saturday a student computer
\nliteracy program aimed at introducing information technology to
\nschools nationwide.<\/p>\n
Called the One School One Computer Lab (OSOL), the program was
\nopened by State Minister of Communications and Information
\nSyamsul Mu'arif as part of Indonesia compliance with a United
\nNations declaration, which seeks to create a technology-based
\nglobal communication society by 2015.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has no choice but to improve its human resources to
\nstay in touch with the rest of the world in terms of information
\ntechnology, Syamsul said.<\/p>\n
The country, he added, still lagged behind in communication
\ntechnology, let alone information technology, as reflected by the
\nfact that it only had between seven and eight million registered
\nfixed telephone lines. Indonesia is home to over 214 million
\npeople, the world's fourth most populated country.<\/p>\n
"Transfer of data remains a future goal, as many people here
\ndo not have telephones. Therefore, we will start with students
\nand will introduce them to information technology as early as
\npossible," Syamsul said.<\/p>\n
Also attending the launch at the SMK I vocational high school
\nin Batu Aji district was Minister of National Education Abdul
\nMalik Fajar.<\/p>\n
The national program has targeted Batam for its pilot project,
\nwith the support of American software giant Microsoft.<\/p>\n
Syamsul said the program would involve all stakeholders in the
\neducation, finance, infrastructure and Internet service sectors.
\nBoth central and regional governments are to work together to
\nprovide each school with a computer laboratory and enable
\nstudents to learn how to use computers in class.<\/p>\n
Malik expressed hope that students could use the facilities
\nprovided in the computer labs to improve their literacy in
\ninformation technology.<\/p>\n
"I am sad to see computers functioning only as a typewriter or
\na play station. We know there are many more benefits to be had
\nfrom a computer," Malik said.<\/p>\n
Microsoft is supporting the program by providing discount
\nsoftware to prevent the use of pirated products. Each software
\nprogram costs US$2.5 for the OSOL.<\/p>\n
Batam Deputy Mayor Asman Abnur, representing the local
\nadministration, welcomed the national program and expected that
\neventually, there would be one computer for every student.<\/p>\n
"I look to Singapore and the U.S., where students only bring
\ntheir diskettes to school, as there are enough computers to go
\naround. Hopefully, the same thing could happen here and in
\nIndonesia," he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-starts-computer-literacy-program-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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