A project unique even to the European Union is to be launched now, Minister of National Development Zsuzsa Németh said at a press conference presenting the Digital Community Programme, held in Miskolc on 22 November, 2013. Within the framework of the programme financed jointly by the state and the commercial sector, 17 thousand laptops are to be given to applicants, free trainings are to be held and regional IT investments are to be implemented in Miskolc and surroundings.

Digital literacy is a skill indispensable for almost any work today. Lacking this key competence makes looking for a job, finding a job and returning to the labour market increasingly difficult. People without a computer or internet access are at a disadvantage in several fields of life. Eradicating digital illiteracy is therefore one of the high priority tasks of the Government.

The major objective of the National Info-communication Strategy is to make the advantages of digital instruments accessible for all Hungarian citizens. In order to successfully implement this nationwide programme, the Government has cooperated with players of the info-communication sector and together they have worked out the Digital Community Programme, jointly financed by the state and the commercial sector.

The programme aims to support as many people in need as possible in acquiring digital knowledge, thereby contributing to creating equal opportunities, improving the quality of life and, by narrowing the development gap in this field, increasing the country’s competitiveness.

The Minister revealed that the Government had contributed to the pilot programme by HUF 4 bn, of which 3bn were domestic and 1bn EU funds, within the framework of which they would provide participants with instruments, the infrastructure and the required training free of charge. The regional IT developments to be implemented so as to create faster and more reliable internet access for local authorities and educational institutions will have favourable effects also on the everyday lives of citizens in the region.

Within the framework of the programme, the Government would provide those in need with 17 thousand laptops, Zsuzsa Németh revealed. 16 thousand of these are to be given to private person applicants from the target group specified and the rest, based on invitation to tender, to educational institutions teaching disadvantaged and multiply disadvantaged students, schools participating in the Digital Secondary School programme and first-year students of Miskolc University. The invitation to tender was launched in mid November so three students have already been given the instruments indispensable for learning.

The Digital Community Programme also has expectations of successful applicants. They are required to attend trainings and in the course of the three years of the project they have to fill in questionnaires at specified intervals, which will give a genuine picture of the advance made and the effectiveness of the programme. After evaluating the programme, a decision can be made on when, how, by what modifications and from what funds the initiative can be extended to the national level.

(Ministry of National Development Communications Department)