FYR of Macedonia/ 4.2 Specific policy issues and recent debates  

4.2.11 New technologies and digitalisation in the arts and culture

The new government, which took office in September 2006, has announced a specific policy in this field. For example: a computer for every pupil in elementary and high schools throughout the country (nearly 150 000 computers); free computer training for the population; free internet for every household; 5 000 students in informatics studies (500 with government's scholarship) etc. These targets should be fulfilled in the next two years, with a budget of 9 million EUR from the government and an additional 13 million EUR from international funds.

VAT for computer technology was also reduced from 18% to 5% and the first contingent of 50 000 computers have been purchased for schools. The government also realised the project "Macedonia - informatics country", introducing the possibility of free Internet access for everyone.

In July 2011, the new government changed the former Ministry for Information Technology to the Ministry for Information Technology and Public Administration.

Table 5:     Internet use by population, aged 15-74, 2010-2011

Source:     State Statistical Office, Macedonia in Figures, 2012.

While internet usage is increasing as seen in Table 5, the latest data (2010) shows that only 18 national institutions have websites, which is less then one third.

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