The government has set up three new Community Technology Training Centres to help people to familiarise themselves with information technology (ICT).

One of the new centres is at the prisons at Corradino and supplements the prison's education unit. IT Minister Austin Gatt said the government had refurbished 25 used computers and installed them at the prison to teach inmates how to use them or help them further develop their skills. They can also sit for ECDL certification while serving time.

"The idea is to equip the inmates with the right skills in ICT to enable them to find a job and integrate in society once they leave the prison," Dr Gatt said.

The Acting Director of Prisons, Abraham Zammit said that ICT facilities for the training of inmates were previously very limited and the prison used to face a problem in that inmates did not have the opportunity to sit for ECDL exams in prison.

The minister said new Community Technology Training Centres were also being opened today at Balzan local council and at the offices of the Farmers' Association in Ta' Qali. In both cases, the centres would also aim at helping the general public in the case of the former, and farmers in the case of the latter, to familiarise themselves with ICT.

There are now 14 such centres across Malta and Gozo.