Combating poverty, social exclusion through technology

Technological illiteracy and the use of ICT education to eliminate financial hardship were recently discussed at the sixth press breakfast for the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.

The event, held at the European Commission’s representation office in Valletta, focused on the growing importance of technology in people’s lives, its relationship to adult literacy, and the ICT skills needed to combat poverty and social exclusion.

The breakfast was addressed by a panel of professionals, including Bernard Agius from the Malta Communications Authority, Joseph Cutajar, senior manager at the Employment and Training Corporation, and Josephine Vassallo from the Curriculum Management and e-Learning Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education at the Ministry of Education, Employment and the Family.

“While Maltese youths appear to be living a digital lifestyle, many adults, particularly those aged over 40, keep resisting technology. They have not yet embraced IT and thus risk social exclusion and digital poverty,” Mr Agius said.

The 2010 European Year forCombating Poverty and Social Exclusion aims to raise awareness about poverty and social exclusion and its consequences.

Nearly 84 million citizens in the EU still live at risk of poverty. Many of them face serious obstacles in accessing employment, education, housing, as well as social and financial services.