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Digital Inclusion

Singapore Government extends IT training for elders

By Pia Rufino | 7 March 2011

The Ministry of Information, Communication and Arts (MICA) raised the initial funding for IT training and hubs programme for seniors—Silver Infocomm Initiative (SSI)—from S$2.5 (US$ 197,000) to S$4.2 million (US$ 331,000).

Infocomm Development Authority’s SSI 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.

Acting MICA Acting Minister Lui Tuck Yew said the fund boost will go towards organising programmes so that elders will actively engage in the digital age.

“It is precisely to help raise awareness of the benefits of infocomm and provide incentives to encourage its usage among senior citizens that the SII budget has been increased,” he said at the Silver INFOCOMM Day 2010.

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

“The Government remains committed to make sure that…we build an inclusive digital society,” said Tuck Yew.

Since the project launched in 2007, nine SIJ has been established. The latest SIJ was opened in at the Tampines i-Clickz Club on 20 February.

Three more SIJ’s will be established by 2013.

As an incentive, seniors who complete 30 hours of IT training with SIJ partners get S$100 (US$79) discount to purchase special PC bundles.

Since the first quarter of the 2010, the government already set up 31 Silver Infocomm hotspots located at community clubs and wellness centres where seniors could get free access to computers and Internet services. Sixty nine hotspots are due by 2013.

The government also established International IT Bootcamps or IT workshops where grandparents attend infocomm workshops together with their grandchildren.

“Such bootcamps achieve the twin objectives of enhancing infocomm literacy among senior citizens, while strengthening inter-generational bonding,” said Tuck Yew.

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