These are the bold targets set for Singapore’s newly launched ten-year infocomm masterplan:
• Singapore to be No. 1 in the world in harnessing infocomm to add value to the economy and society
• Achieve a two-fold increase in value-added of the infocomm industry to S$26 billion
• See a three-fold increase in infocomm export revenue to S$60 billion
• Create 80,000 additional jobs
• Have at least 90 per cent of homes using broadband
• Ensure 100 per cent computer ownership for all homes with school-going children
The goals were set in Singapore by a steering committee with representatives from the infocomm industry, sectors like education, healthcare, manufacturing & logistics, finance, tourism & retail and digital media, as well as the government. The full article quoted in this post is here.
Did you notice that the masterplan does not include fiddling with schools? The implication of that omission is very interesting: Singapore plans to be No. 1 in the world in harnessing infocomm by having homes with at least 90% broadband coverage and where all school-going children have computers at home.
Ten years from now will world leadership be determined by whether a country’s students have had broadband online Internet engagement outside of school? My guess is yes: at least connecting kids during the next decade will be among the top factors, as they think in Singapore.
November 22nd, 2006 at 12:25 am
Did you study the ministerial-level push of IT within the school system before making these comments?
November 22nd, 2006 at 5:50 am
There seems nothing the least bit farcical in what Singapore is doing. Your kids are very fortunate to be getting the Internet connections.