1.25 Million Venezuelans Have Become Literate in Information Technology
A total 1,267,778 people have become literate in informational technology in Venezuela thanks to programs implemented by the Venezuelan government aimed at granting access to technology
1,267,778 people have become literate in informational technology thanks to programs implemented by the Venezuelan government aimed at granting access to said technology. The government’s Infocentros, a dual educational and social project, provides computer and internet access to the population free of charge.
Minister of Science, Technology and Intermediate Industries, Ricardo Menendez, referred to the 1.25 million people now “technologically literate” during a public event in which the government transferred the management of Infocentros to organized communities via community-based communal councils.
The government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has helped establish some 777 Infocentros nationwide, sites that make information and communication technology, primarily internet-connected computer terminals, available to the general public. Staff at these Infocentros also provide instruction in how to utilize such technology. An estimated 3.4 million people have visited these computer and internet centers.
Over half of the Infocentros (492) are linked to the Simon Bolivar Satellite, which has 2,700 antennas distributed nationwide, while the rest are connected to CANTV, the national telephone company.
“We have had 33% internet penetration in 11 million visits thanks solely to our Infocentros,” Menendez said.
The Venezuelan government has been pushing forward plans to transfer Infocentros to organized communities as part of a process of joint management. “Communities and the state assume the responsibility to build a people’s state through community”s exercise of direct democracy,” affirmed Menendez.
21 of these sites have been handed over to communities to date “and the goal set by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is to transfer the management of some 42 Infocentros this year.”
The goal is to set up an additional 200 Infocentros this year “and we have accomplished 65% of the objective so far,” he concluded.
Edited by Venezuelanalysis.com
