Financial Times

e-Citizen certifications to promote IT understanding
By Akhry Ameer
A new international certification launched last year could promote understanding and usage of government services via the Internet. E-Citizen an international certification introduced by the European Computer Driving License Foundation (ECDL) is finding wider acceptance as a first step to computer literacy according to its local partners.

Dr. H.K. Alles of TestIT Ltd, the local business partner for the ECDL certification exams, said 1400 candidates obtained the e-Citizen certifications in its launch phase last year, as against 2427 obtaining the International or European Computer Driving Licences. The certifications are sought after as they are recognized globally in 70% of the countries with over five million certified candidates.

e-Citizen certification has been launched with the aim of developing an understanding of computers and the Internet among candidates with a view to facilitating their participation in the Information Society.

ECDL Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that provides vendor neutral certification, has identified a need for such a certification as governments and organisations are moving increasingly towards the Online provision of Information, products and services.

According to Dr. Alles, this could well increase IT usage among citizens in Sri Lanka as well. With this intent TestIT proposes to embark on a programme to offer these courses at the Nanasala or rural Knowledge Centres established by the Information Communications Technology Agency (ICTA). The course provides basic level training and certification for those with a limited knowledge of computers and the Internet. Assessment in e-Citizen is done automatically via the Internet and the results are known instantly.

The ECDL foundation originally launched the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) in Europe as a standard to recognize end-user computer skills. Since then it has expanded the programme to offer International Computer Driving Licences (ICDL).

The ICDL certifications are also offered by TestIT targeted at individuals seeking employment. This certification tests the candidates for relatively advanced usage to the e-Citizen certification in terms of using the Internet and other regular office applications such as word processing, email, etc.
The automated test software and tests, managed centrally in Europe, are subjected to stringent quality assurance measures. Testing is delivered through accredited test centres. In countries where there are large numbers, tests are delivered in the native language.

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