Popularizing information technology, connecting knowledge: Need support

(Baonghean) -Over the years, the Youth Union of Nghe An province has always been proactive in volunteer activities to popularize information technology and connect knowledge to rural and mountainous youth. However, currently, bringing information technology to remote areas is facing many difficulties...

In 2006, implementing the pilot program "Popularizing information technology - connecting knowledge for young people" (abbreviated as Thanh Giong project) of the Central Youth Union, the Provincial Youth Union established 4 teams of Youth and student volunteers to popularize information technology in remote and disadvantaged areas in the Summer Volunteer Campaign. This activity has been maintained until now, although the Central Youth Union project only lasted for 2 years. The main goal of the program is to "eliminate information technology illiteracy", instructing rural youth in basic knowledge about computers, hardware, software, and the internet. In addition, it also discovers, fosters, and trains core information technology nuclei for remote and isolated communes...

Student volunteers popularize information technology in Quy Chau.

However, up to now, the implementation of popularizing information technology and connecting knowledge networks has encountered many difficulties. First of all, we have to mention equipment and facilities. When starting the project in 2006, Nghe An was given 20 sets of computers by the Central Youth Union and handed over to the Provincial Youth Union for management, but after many years of use, most of them were damaged. Therefore, every year, the Provincial Youth Union has to sign a contract to rent computer rooms from schools or continuing education centers of districts, combined with mobilizing laptops from volunteers. Classes are crowded, computers are few, sometimes 4-5 people study on one computer, the level of students is not even, so the efficiency is not high. In addition, popularizing information technology classes are often located in the center of town, so students in remote areas have a hard time traveling. Rural and mountainous districts have difficult economic conditions, many communes do not even have electricity or internet connection, so after finishing the course, students do not have the opportunity to practice regularly, leading to forgetting what they learned... Mr. Pham Ngoc Canh - Deputy Head of the Provincial Youth Union's Solidarity Committee, Chief of Office of the Provincial Youth Union said: On average, every year, the province establishes 2 teams to popularize information technology, connect knowledge networks and popularize it for 150-200 students, the main subjects are commune youth union officials, secretaries of block and hamlet youth unions, but due to financial difficulties, the short study time only lasts for 8-10 days, so it is just like a breeze. Besides, the unevenness in age and level of awareness of the students also creates difficulties in transferring knowledge. Moreover, currently the Youth Union is still having to implement the rotation form of this year in this district, next year in another district, which significantly affects the effectiveness of the program.

Popularizing information technology - connecting knowledge, creating conditions to help young people learn, access and apply information technology, and improve their knowledge is a practical program, meeting the needs and aspirations of young people in rural and mountainous areas. However, for the program to be effective in life, it requires support from all levels and sectors, and the mobilization of social resources.

To concretize the Project "Building 1000 points for propaganda, dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge and internet access for rural and mountainous youth", in response to the Youth Year 2011, the Central Youth Union will coordinate with VNPT to pilot the construction of 62 "youth internet" points in 62 poor districts, of which Nghe An has 3 districts under the 30a program: Ky Son, Tuong Duong, Que Phong. The "youth internet" points are located at secondary and high schools for ethnic minorities in the districts and will officially come into operation on the occasion of the Opening Ceremony on September 5. Here, services such as: popularizing information technology and internet, electronic libraries, points for dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge, points for internet access services, and points for youth activities are jointly managed by the Board of Directors, the School Youth Union, and the Commune Youth Union.

The "youth internet" points are expected to become healthy and practical cultural clubs for young people. Telecommunications officials, local Youth Union organizations and schools will actively cooperate to promote solidarity activities to gather young people, train and improve their IT knowledge, and guide information selection for young people. This is an activity of great significance both materially and spiritually for young people in disadvantaged areas, but it only meets a very small part of the current need for information access of young people. Therefore, if there is attention from all levels of the industry, active support from businesses, better support from localities to have more "youth internet" points in remote areas, the program of popularizing IT and connecting knowledge will be more effective and practical, contributing to promoting the movement of learning, applying science and IT among young people, serving socio-economic development, poverty reduction, and building new rural areas.

Khanh Ly