A new Community Training and Learning Centre (CTLC) was opened last Friday at the Gozo NGO Association in Xewkija by Dr Anton Refalo, Minister for Gozo, Dr Edward Zammit Lewis, Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Competitiveness and Economic Growth and Dr Franco Mercieca, Parliamentary Secretary for Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing. This event also marked the start of the first phase of the new MCA European Social Funds project titled ENTER, which includes an awareness campaign that will run through March and will promote the use of ICT in everyday contexts, as well as an opportunity to better one’s productivity at work and improve job mobility. The second phase of the project will include free training opportunities for 3500 individuals aged between 25 and 64 years. Training will be offered at the CTLCs across the islands including the new centre at the Gozo NGO Association.
The new centre will be managed by the Gozo NGO Association in collaboration with the MCA. The centre has been equipped with computers provided by the Authority and will serve as a training and resource centre for the voluntary organisations operating in Gozo.
The new centre joins another 19 centres that have been established over the past years in various communities across the islands. These centres, typically managed by local councils, voluntary organisations and public agencies, participate in awareness and training programmes coordinated by the MCA. To date, over 7000 individuals have participated in ICT literacy initiatives organised by the MCA through such centres.
Statistics published by the NSO indicate that 28% of Maltese individuals have never used the Internet. This implies that about one in every three individuals is unable to use ICTs at the workplace, cannot use eGovernment or eHealth services, shop online or access internet banking, communicate with family and friends through social networks and cannot browse the Internet to access news and information.
Hon. Edward Zammit Lewis stressed the importance Government is giving to ICT and how it is being considered as the backbone to Malta’s future economy. He stated that Government will shortly be launching the National ICT Strategy that will set out clear policy and actions that will guide Malta to achieve its Digital Agenda targets. He added that the country’s future relies on the ability of all its citizens to become digitally engaged and to become part of a dynamic digital workforce and society.
Referring to the recently launched Active Ageing strategy, Hon. Franco Mercieca underlined the importance of ICT as an enabler to help ageing individuals remain active contributors to society and the economy. He referred to high participation recorded for the LiveICT initative through which over 900 individuals aged 65+ have learnt to use the Internet through one of the CTLCs. He added that such CTLCs have an important role to play within the community and invited everyone, especially the vulnerable, to make the best use of the services offered by these centres.
Hon. Anton Refalo welcomed the new centre and commended the role civil society has assumed in achieving widespread digital literacy in Gozo. He stated that ICT can help Gozo to overcome its double insularity as it removes geographic barriers for residents and business. He stressed that learning to use ICT cannot be exclusive to formal education and that everyone should participate in such lifelong learning programmes.