Jordan Times
Tuesday, February 7, 2006
IT effect on rural areas
reviewed
By Razan Nasser
AMMAN — Social development experts from Egypt,
Syria, Palestine and Lebanon yesterday began discussing with their Jordanian
counterparts how to bridge the digital divide that exists between cities and
rural areas.
This took place in a two-day regional conference entitled “The Effects of
Information Technology on Rural and Remote Areas.” The conference, which opened
on Monday, is organised by the National Information Technology Centre (NITC) and
sponsored by UNESCO.
In addition to the digital divide, participants will also talk about “the
electronic services provided, sustainable human development and enabling women
and youth to deal with IT and communication tools,” said Nasser Khalaf, director
of NITC's Knowledge Stations (KS) programme.
“We hope the conference will allow us to share our experiences in Jordan and
learn from the experience of our neighbouring countries,” Khalaf told The Jordan
Times.
“Only through closing the digital divide I believe we can bring true human
development,” he added.
Khalaf also said he was looking forward to sharing the Kingdom's experience with
the KS programme.
The initiative seeks to ensure access to ICT for all Jordanians, especially by
helping communities in rural and remote areas who otherwise would not be able to
experience ICT easily, according to the KS website.
“These knowledge centres effectively double as training centres in information
technology and as community centres,” Khalaf explained.
“They offer the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) course and website
building courses, in addition to Internet access for minimal fees. People
applying for loans from the Employment and Development Fund can now do so
electronically from our stations instead of going to Amman. We are also working
on making the Knowledge Stations a gateway to the e-government,” he added.
In his address at the opening ceremony, Minister of Education and Minister of
Higher Education and Scientific Research Khalid Touqan, spoke about the
important role served by these Knowledge Stations.
“These stations' goal is to build local capacities and utilise IT in economic
and social development so that job opportunities will increase and poverty
pockets will decrease,” said Touqan, who is chairman of the Royal Committee
overseeing Knowledge Stations.
Other services provided by the stations are the implementation of small economic
projects to support local needs, the ability to fill income tax forms and
purchase or sell land online, Touqan added.
His Majesty King Abdullah, through the King Abdullah II Development Fund, has
supported the establishment of the Knowledge Stations. The first centre
officially opened in the remote desert town of Safawi in September 2000.
Currently there are 114 stations scattered all over the Kingdom, which have
provided services to 130,000 people since their establishment.