The place of digital skills in the lives of people is not doubted by policymakers in developed and developing countries. Yet there are many who lag in this area, as in Britain where 12.6 million adults lack basic digital skills, according to management consulting firm Accenture. The country has a current shortage of about 745,000 digital workers which is reportedly costing the economy £63 billion (S$113 billion) a year in lost income. In emerging economies like Brazil and South Africa, substantial proportions of the population see no need to access the Internet, despite the provision of national networks. To unlock the potential of information and communication technology infrastructure, studies have shown that it is vital to broaden mental vistas and provide digital training.
As a digital nation - defined as one that plays an active role in steering its digital economy - Singapore takes the top spot in the Asia-Pacific region, according to advisory firm AlphaBet. But, as is evident elsewhere, there are still unacceptable numbers of Singaporeans who harbour certain fears about technology and do not regard it as a "friend" capable of uplifting their jobs and personal lives, as Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung observed.
In keeping with the inclusive aspirations of the nation, it is necessary to bring everyone on board in pushing towards a digital future. This is the aim of the national initiative called SkillsFuture for Digital Workplace, which seeks to demystify emerging technologies, help individuals to develop a positive view of technological disruptions, and assist workers to take advantage of new opportunities. Digital skills are to the future what literacy and numeracy were to the past. Hence, all must cultivate a familiarity with tech conventions and basic vocabulary so they can use gadgets safely and communicate effectively with others about tech-related issues.
At the entry level, workers must appreciate the role of information: how to find, check, organise and use it. When certain hardware and software tools are standard in a particular industry, it will be necessary to have a basic understanding of them. The use of media is also an essential skill which has to be acquired for communication, learning and pleasure. As digital skills are progressively honed over the years, some might gain sufficient mastery to be able to synthesise information, critically evaluate content, adapt technology for specific purposes, or even invent something with a local flavour.
To succeed across a broad plane, digital-skills programmes must be made accessible to all genders, ages and socio-economic groups. Also, the content ought to be need-specific and adopt lively formats. Positive outcomes, however modest in scope, should be widely disseminated to reinforce the everyday relevance of digital skills.
