Women offered free training in computer skills

Women are to be given the opportunity to learn basic computer skills or enhance their digital literacy in a new government scheme launched yesterday.

The Smart Women programme will provide free training in information and communication technology (ICT) at different levels, as well as childcare facilities, also free of charge.

The programme leads to Microsoft certification in different streams of specialisation.

"The country is facing the challenge of finding enough people to fill posts created through investment in Malta... And women form one of the biggest unutilised pools of resources this country has," Investment and Information Technology Minister Austin Gatt said during the launch at the Hilton in St Julians.

Scores of women turned up for the launch which was also attended by the Prime Minister's wife Kate Gonzi and Dr Gatt's wife Marisa.

Dr Gatt explained how his ministry, in collaboration with Microsoft Malta Ltd, was offering free courses tailored to encourage women to participate in the ICT world. Free childcare would make it easier for women with children to attend such courses at their own pace.

The Smart Women programme aims to increase the number of women in ICT as currently there is a gender imbalance, he said.

"The free specialist ICT training course will empower women with new skills as well as enhance their value in the labour market by becoming certified in areas for which there is a huge demand," Microsoft country manager Pierre Mallia said.

The president of the National Council of Women, Doreen Micallef, said this initiative would help fulfil a number of the council's objectives, which included the integration of women in the labour market, offering equal opportunities to women and bridging the gender pay gap.

"Nowadays digital literacy is important even if women decide to stay at home or if they have to stay home. It helps facilitate their life through, for example, online shopping and helps them keep in contact with what's happening out there," she said.

Ms Micallef added that training women in ICT would lead to more women working and this meant that Malta's labour force would be larger. This would then lead to economic growth for the whole country.

Microsoft general manager (within the Market Development Central and Eastern Europe) Veronika Prikrylova said studies showed that ICT was seen as more of an opportunity for a male audience than for females.

At present, it was calculated that six out of every 10 Maltese women were economically inactive. Microsoft was endeavouring to improve the participation of women in the ICT workforce and had developed a series of courses.

The courses will include a basic computer course and three streams of specialisation in the business, development and technical areas.

Student and graduates in ICT-related diplomas and degrees and those already employed within the ICT industry will not be accepted.

The closing date for applications is March 28.

Further details and online applications can be obtained by visiting www.thesmartisland.gov.mt or phoning 2125 5495.