[MIC] Publication of a Draft Roadmap for the Improvement of ITC Literacy Skills

On May 22, 2023, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) published a draft roadmap for the improvement of ICT literacy skills and started collecting public opinions.

The draft was prepared as a result of seven meetings of the "Study Group for the Improvement of ICT Literacy Skills,” established on November 4, 2022.

As the use of ICT becomes commonplace among people of all ages, the committee was established to study the literacy skills required in the digital society of the future and how to promote the improvement of such literacy skills while taking into account the concept of "digital citizenship" in which citizens engage in the digital society autonomously on their own initiative.

The Working Group on the Improvement of ICT Literacy Skills for Young People was also set up in the same study group to examine the literacy skills that young people should acquire in the digital society and provide filter services to protect them.

The draft roadmap presents the following proposals for future action:

[Short-term Action Items] (within FY2023)
1. Specify and elaborate on the skills to be acquired, formulate indicators related to proficiency, and examine methods of measuring such proficiency.
2. Develop content to raise the elements of skills corresponding to the challenges of using ICT common to all generations.
3. Conduct surveys and analyses of the current proficiency levels and characteristics of media use and other issues specific to the segment in question, with regard to the segment for which the raising of literacy is a priority.]
4. Analyze existing and new issues by compiling the characteristics and challenges of the generative AI, develop contents according to their competence, and consider the target persons according to those contents, their delivery methods, while gauging their effectivity.

[Medium- and long-term action items] (from 2024 onwards)
1. Develop content for segments that need to raise their literacy levels on a priority basis.
2. Examine effective ways of delivering content, taking into account the issues specific to the segment and the characteristics of media use.
3. Review schemes on the development and acquisition of human resources and how coordinators should function.
4. Formulate content for teaching personnel development
5. Promote initiatives for coordination and partnership with the parties concerned

[Ongoing action items] (from 2023 onwards)
1. Use when setting goals (target competence areas and targeted proficiency levels) when reviewing and implementing individual measures.
2. Implement and promote awareness-raising activities using the content to be developed.
3. Continuous surveys on the actual situation regarding proficiency levels, etc.
4. Continue to promote the development of an environment based on the use of Internet services by young people, such as filtering and parental controls, based on the New Issues and Measures for the Development of a Safe and Secure Environment for Young People Who Use the Internet.

The youth, parents, and senior population groups were identified as priority segments, but there was no mention of ICT literacy improvement focused on persons with disabilities.

For more information, visit the website below:
https://www.soumu.go.jp/menu_news/s-news/01ryutsu02_02000359.html

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