A training programme, designed to give people basic communication technology skills, will be launched this summer using EU funds.

IT Minister Austin Gatt said the programme - First Step - was mainly targeted at workers who risked losing their job and at the unemployed.

The course will teach basic computer, internet and e-mail skills, as well as English, mathematics and communication skills which will enable students to follow more advanced ICT courses.

Dr Gatt said the target audience had no ICT knowledge and basic communication skills, but wanted to prepare themselves for the IT world. The country's economic future depended on advanced technology, which was important to increase the gross domestic product and disposable income, he added.

The €500,000 project is mostly financed by European Social Funds.

Between 250 and 300 people will be able to take part in the programme this year but, Dr Gatt said the plan was to apply for more funds to continue providing the course in the coming years.

He said that in future even chambermaids would need to have some form of IT knowledge to be able to give information about guest rooms through a PDA.

"We believe that these skills can be taught and Maltese workers can learn them," he said during a press conference yesterday.

He said it was a mistake to think workers were unable to learn. Globalisation was threatening jobs and the solution lay in re-skilling workers who were at risk of becoming unemployed.

A study by consultancy firm KPMG has shown that there is a need for persons with no ICT skills to learn basic skills before moving on to more specific training to pursue a career in the industry. KPMG senior advisor Hadrian Sammut explained that demand for training, which had gone up in recent years, was still on the rise.

The study, carried out among 11 training providers and 23 ICT service providers, showed that despite the increase in the number of people choosing to receive ICT training, the demand for certified workers has increased at a faster rate.

The majority of ICT suppliers said they preferred employees who had some form of certification. Just over half said they were satisfied with the supply of trained personnel, but others pointed toward a shortage in certain areas.

Mr Sammut said students could train for 21 different ICT certifications, with Microsoft offering the highest number (14). Between January 2003 and October, last year, more than 2,000 people had been awarded certifications.

He said certain skills - including basic computer awareness, fundamental communication skills, English language literacy and knowledge of basic computer jargon - were necessary before starting such courses.

Applications for the course can be made by phoning on 2386 7514 at any hour between Monday and April 30.