Singapore is charging ahead with its smart nation ambition, but most (if not all) of the elderly population here is lagging behind with its lack of digital skillsets.
In a bid to build an inclusive digital society, Minister for Communications and Information S. Iswaran announced yesterday the expansion of educational efforts to equip them with basic digital skills.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has partnered with People’s Association to organise the digital readiness clinics.
From September, 100 free workshops will be offered to the Merdeka Generation and are expected to reach about 10,000 seniors over a one-year period.
Participants have to first take a simple survey to assess the areas they need most help in.
Some of the skills they will be able to learn are personal data protection, how to use online search engines and mobile messaging apps such as WhatsApp, as well as e-payments and QR code scanning.
The classes will be held at public libraries and community events, and the full schedule will be made available on IMSilver.sg in September.
According to IMDA, almost half of Singaporeans (45%) aged 60 and above are still not using the Internet as of last year.
No matter what you are doing, you are perpetually catching up because technology keeps moving forward.
It’s not as if we can one day say that we have arrived and everyone is now digitally savvy, so we must have the right attitude of continuing to learn.
– Minister S. Iswaran
Featured Image Credit: OpenGov