PM urges to enhance computer literacy in Kazakhstan

ASTANA. March 19. KAZINFORM Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov pointed to the discord in the level of e-Government development and computer literacy of the population that uses the online services.

"Regardless of the fact that 100% of socially important services are being transferred into e-format this year, 80% of Kazakhstani population will be computer literate only by 2020," Mr. Akhmetov told the Cabinet on Tuesday.

"There is a huge gap between the creation of these electronic services and their actual usage," he addressed Minister of Transport and Communications Askar Zhumagaliyev who was in attendance at the government meeting.

The Kazakh Premier noted that majority of Kazakhstanis use the help of the public service centers.

"How can we lessen that gap? How can we make sure that our people use e-services instead of going to the public service centers? It is up to you and the Ministry of Education and Science to make it happen," Prime Minister Akhmetov told Mr. Zhumagaliyev.

Minister Zhumagaliyev, in turn, assured that his ministry is working on that issue and has already developed certain proposals in that respect.

"We have included computer literacy training at schools, government bodies and national companies into the plan. The plan will be submitted to the Government for approval," A. Zhumagaliyev added.