 |
Digital divide in Estonia and how to bridge it
Kalkun, Mari and Kalvet, Tarmo |
|
| Information technology can help raise productivity and as such is fundamental to economic growth and a raised quality of life. In Estonia the steep increase in the numbers of Internet users in the 5 years previous to 2000 has not shown signs of further growth. As the living standard in Estonia is relatively low comparatively few people have computers at home. Most computer use is either in the work place or in schools, with school children accounting for the largest percentage of users. Owing to this the prevailing view is that computers are useful for children doing their school assignments or adults in their job. This paper states that this divide in the number of users of information technology, which has been confirmed by several surveys, is a problem which has to be tackled. In order to be effective, and to ensure that the trainees become convinced Internet users, training programmes should take into consideration that one of the main difficulties is an unwillingness to reveal one’s lack of computer literacy. Although the recommendations in this paper are mainly directed at the government the authors realise that their implementation can only be possible in co-operation with the private sector. |
|
 |
|
|
