Parents’ technological illiteracy should be eradicated by their children

Children are the ones who should introduce their parents to information technologies and teach them how to use them extensively. In the 21st century, when modern technologies are omnipresent, it is time to quit using paper and form queues in front of a booth that issues documents or accepts commodity payments. These opinions were voiced during public debates organized by the Center for the promotion of freedom of expression and access to information “Acces-Info”, reports Info-Prim Neo. Vasile Spinei, head of “Acces-Info”, said that there is a global trend of fear by older persons towards modern technologies. “I think we need a program of older persons. Someone told me that the time has come when the children should eradicate their parent’s technological illiteracy”, highlighted Vasile Spinei. Aneta Gonta, representative of the Electronic Press Association APEL, said that people learned to use Skype out of the necessity to communicate at long distances, and that she believes that it will be the same with paying bills through modern technologies, without having to wait in queues. Stela Mocanu, executive director of the Electronic Governance Center, says that modern technologies offer opportunities to all countries, big or small, rich or poor. “We are a country that integrates through technologies. Some people still resist it, but the authorities have already started to publish their data. We must act in untraditional ways. Over 230,000 citizens are part of social networks; they want something else from the authorities. We must use the opportunities. We must learn to communicate within virtual environments, although it seems unreal, but we have the obligation to think about the youth, who in 10-15 years will seek for a future here, and we must offer them free access to information”, said Stela Mocanu. The executive director of the Electronic Governance Center pointed out that current projects have already passed the stage when the authorities needed to be convinced about their utility and importance. “Our priority is to work on the local level. We talked with several partners about expanding the projects from the central level to the local level. All our initiatives are ready for new beneficiaries. Our objective is to exclude paper use; we will have a guide for each service, so that the citizens know which button to press”, said Stela Mocanu. Currently, Moldova has 20 on-line services. Moldovans can pay their bills through the internet, and obtain a copy of their police record without standing in a queue. Moldova is among the countries with the fastest internet in Europe.