IT Education and Socio-Economic Development from a Developing Country Perspective

摘要

In a world of fast changing technology, technology-specific skills [IT education] and learning are as much important as the formal education is. Better capabilities, especially in micro-electronic applications and use of information technology, for job seeking is expected to bring about a change in the socio-economic structure of the society. This is especially when such skill formation efforts, in developing countries, are directed to socially and economically underprivileged. The real issue that emerges from studies on developing countries is that efforts should be made to close the digital gap through incorporating ICT directly in development work - not just include ICT in other projects. The holistic view makes it necessary to expand focus from macro-economic dynamics to include locally embedded approaches. Many studies also emphasized that the private sector/non-governmental organisation and voluntary agencies, apart from the government, are all very important players in reaching these goals. A perusal of the Socio Economic Index constructed for the beneficiaries of subsidized IT education offered by a business house in India indicates a rising trend in communication skills, socio economic status and per capita income for the State of Maharashtra as the educational attainment increases, while there are mixed trends for Rajasthan.