Computer Training Offered
By Khairunnisa Ibrahim

Bandar Seri Begawan - Bitex Sdn Bhd is offering the public a chance to earn themselves an internationally-recognised computer skills certification through training courses at the Book Fair 2007, Indoor Stadium Berakas.

For $130 per person, those interested would be able to take a full-day class or, alternatively, three evening classes under the e-Citizen Training Course. At the end of the training, participants will sit for a test in order to qualify for an ICDL or International Computer Driving License qualification.

According to local ICDL training company Bitex, the e-Citizen course is a new computer skills programme developed by the European Computer Driving License Foundation (ECDL-F) to cater to those with little or no prior knowledge on computers and the Internet.

The programme is intended to increase computer literacy in Brunei by equipping participants with the skills to face a broad range of environments, from dealing with government departments to searching information and buying products and services online.

The developer, ECDL-F, which acts as the global governing body of the ICDL, is a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping raise the public's general computer skills and providing access for all to the information society.

The Book Fair, launched on Sunday by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Major General (R) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Awang Mohammad bin Haji Daud, is a practical platform for the ICDL training course, which also kicked off that day. It will run concurrently with the fair -until its closing on March 6.

On that day, Bitex has' also scheduled a seminar entitled Bridging the Digital Divide, which will, among other things, explain ICDL and the e-Citizen programme and its benefits. Recently, local ICDL providers announced plans to launch the e-Citizen course in Malay, but it is currently not yet available, a Bitex staff said.

ICDL is basically an international standard certification that promotes digital literacy by enabling people to demonstrate their skills in basic day-to-day computer applications. Available in 146 countries and 36 languages, it improves job prospects and mobility of individuals and enhances their personal development and motivation.

It also' benefits organisations in that it testifies for the computer competency of their employees and acts as a tangible computer skills benchmark that new employees should aspire to. Once certified, employees may exhibit better efficiency and productivity.

ICDL aims to address the digital gap issue, which is often described as the disparity between those who have access to information and communications technology and those who do not.

Brunei is one such country, where accessibility is almost guaranteed. Almost everyone in Brunei has access to electricity and phones, as well as to the Internet - it is available in homes, Internet cafes, school computer labs and in the office.

In fact, there are about 15,000 Internet users in the country.

However, the digital divide now refers more to competency to use ICT rather than access to it. This is where ICDL and the e-Citizen programme come in - to provide digital literacy through basic training in computer and Internet use.

Another point emphasised by Bitex is the courage to admit computer illiteracy.

"Don't be afraid to admit you don't know much about computers, there are several out there (in the same situation)," it said.  -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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