Can Islanders log on to the States?

Monday 19 May 2014

Jersey's Economic Development Minister will be quizzed today about how to get Islanders interacting with the States online.

The Digital Skills Scrutiny Sub-panel will ask Senator Alan Maclean how he plans to address any IT skills gaps which might stop Islanders being able to access government services online.

Only about 7% of interactions with the States are done online at the moment, bit its hoped to increase that ten-fold within the next five years. The States have ploughed millions into the growth of the digital sector to diversify Jersey's economy - setting up Digital Jersey and investing in the roll out of Gigabit Jersey - to provide better broadband services.

The panel, chaired by Connétable Steve Pallett, has also been looking at whether the Education department is ready to deliver better IT in schools.  £3 million is being invested in the IT curriculum and all schools should have fibre broadband access by September as part of the department's vision for IT in education: 'Thinking Differently'.

The man in charge of Digital Jersey  says a “well thought through” and “more compelling” IT curriculum is key if Jersey wants to compete on a world stage.

In an interview for the May edition of Connect Magazine (see the Connect tab) Executive Chairman Paul Masterson said the Island needs to catch up, and that "the starting gun for a lot of countries went off ten years plus ago".

Today's hearing, which is open to the public, is being held in the Blampied Room of the States Building from 1 pm until 2 pm.