ICDL GCC Foundation and the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) have announced the renewal of its 2006 memorandum of understanding. This agreement comes in alignment with ictQATAR’s e-Literacy initiatives that were established in an effort to boost government performance and empower citizens with computer skills to take advantage of today’s technologies and online services.
ICDL GCC Foundation, the governing body and certification authority of the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) program in the Gulf region and Iraq, has been working with ictQATAR since January 2006 in developing and implementing a national digital literacy program. So far 17,000 candidates from various government and educational entities has taken part in ICDL certification programs in Qatar, the ICDL project is targeting 33,400 government employees including civil and defence ministries, and educators to complete their ICDL certification by 2012.
Reem Al-Mansoori, e-Inclusion Manager at ictQATAR said, “ictQATAR is committed to raising the performance level of the government employees to enhance productivity, efficiency and flexibility in the delivery of government services; and to enable them to take advantage of today’s technology.”
ICDL GCC Foundation and ictQATAR have also been working together to implement the e-Citizen program in Qatar, aiming to further enhance the country's e-Governance Readiness Index. The e-Citizen program will promote digital awareness among the general public, enabling all citizens to effectively use online services. The two organization are preparing to implement different awarness campaigns among public and women socities and more to include awarness about the importance of IT Literacy, dangars of the internet, and more.
Jamil Ezzo, Director General, ICDL GCC Foundation, said, “ We are happy to renew our 2006 agreement with ictQatar, this step takes Qatar further towards digital literacy and an automated economy, thus making computer skills essential in work environments and across various economic activities. IT proficiency is being increasingly viewed as a necessary means to improve standards of living as well.These factors continue to encourage us to strengthen our partnerships with governments in the Gulf so that we can promote digital knowledge across all sections of society ”.