Sverdlovsk region pensioners study computers and Internet

In the Sverdlovsk region, as many as 5,400 elderly citizens from 28 municipalities have been trained in computer and Internet skills within the framework of regional project "e-Citizen". Eighteen million rubles have been sent for this purpose from the regional budget.

According to the Ministry for Transport and Communications of the Sverdlovsk region, during the training courses, there were over 13 million rubles spent this year. Thus, it was decided to send the saved money for the second phase of "e-Citizen" project.

More than 1,500 pensioners were able to learn to work on computers. During  the second part of the project, the courses will be provided to 1,545 elderly people. The program embraces retirees from the towns of Krasnoufimsk, Lesnoy, Nizhnaya Tura, Kushva, Rezha, Verkhoturye, Kamensk-Uralsky, Krasnoturyinsk, the village of Pionersky and the village of Baikalovo.

The "e-Citizen" project was created to fulfill the strategy of the development of  information society of the Russian Federation, within the framework of  regional integrated program "Older Generation", initiated by the Governor of the Sverdlovsk Region, Yevgeny Kuyvashev.

The "e-Citizen" project is implemented for the second year and has already become popular among the people of the older generation. Last year, computer courses were provided to older students from 13 municipalities. In 2012, the number of settlements involved in project will reach 40.

Older people, who do not have their own computers, will be able to use the new knowledge at the place that provide public access to the Internet. Such centers were created on the basis of public libraries or at local social welfare centers. The education process is free. The costs for training teachers, purchasing educational materials and conducting final tests are covered by the regional budget.

"The implementation of the project "e-Citizen" is vital today. Owing to the courses, our grandparents become more adapted to modern conditions of life," Acting Minister for Transport and Communications of the Sverdlovsk region, Sergey Frolov said.