Efforts to promote digital literacy in the country received a boost yesterday, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the government and ICDL, an international computer skills certification programme.

The two parties will collaborate to promote digital literacy and to certify employees of central and local government and the general public across the country.

More than 85,000 employees of the central and local government are expected to receive certification under the programme as well as the general public.

The agreement, signed by the Ministry of Youth and ICT in Kigali yesterday, comes at a time when levels of national digital literacy stand at about 3.3 per cent of the population (according to the ministry) with the government targeting 50 per cent by 2018.

Under the objectives of the agreement, capacity building will also be directed on developing employable skills targeting students in both high school and graduate level.

ICDL has its main headquarters in Singapore, but yesterday, the firm opened its Africa operations headquarters in Rwanda as they seek to extend their presence in the rest of the continent.

Jean Philbert Nsengimana, the minister for youth and ICT, said the partnership will go a long way in capacity building and increasing productivity, noting that the government and the private sector lose a lot because of the low productivity of employees.

"This opportunity provides us with a new beginning to raise the standards. There are so many places in the country where IT is taught but so far there has not been a national standard of ICT literacy. It is important that they not only acquire skills but they have accredited certification,” Nsengimana said.

Admitting that the current levels of digital literacy were poor, Nsengimana said there were many business opportunities for institutions to create awareness and increase literacy.

He said the agreement would fast-track Rwanda’s digital literacy training and certification for not only government employees but also the general population.

Attractive commitment

ICDL Chief Executive Damien O’Sullivan said that the country’s commitment to information and communication technology was attractive to international firms seeking to increase their presence in Africa.

The government has in the recent months taken to promoting private public partnerships to increase the impacts of ICT in national development.

Last year, government signed an agreement with a Latin America-based firm, Multinational Postivo BGH, to establish a manufacturing plant in the country in the course of the year to produce laptops and other gadgets.

In the same year, government inked a deal with popular social media platform Facebook to develop an online education experience for university students.

IMF boss tours K-Lab

Meanwhile, International Monetary Fund Director General Christine Lagarde yesterday visited K-Lab, a facility that mentors emerging IT professionals and entrepreneurs.

During the tour, Lagarde, who concluded a three-day visit to the country yesterday, said technology was changing lives and the economy.

"It is a major contributor to progress, it is fantastic to see young people invent new ways of creating a market place and offering new services,” said Lagarde, who, during her tour, witnessed innovations by young Rwandan IT professionals.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw