Colombia is the OECD country with the greatest difficulties in accessing a computer

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) delivered the results it annually carries out to measure its member countries’ scientific, technological, and development. Among the data, it was highlighted that Colombia ranked last among countries with access to a computer at home.

For 2020, South Korea had 71.6 households with a working computer, while Costa Rica had 50.5, followed by Mexico with 44.4, countries that figure within the first places.

In 2019, Canada led the list with 83.2 households with at least one working computer, followed by Israel with 79.5, South Korea with 71.1, Japan with 69.1, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Brazil.

Colombia came in last place with a total of 37.2 households that had a working computer.

UNEMPLOYMENT ALSO CRACKS

According to the most recent unemployment report released by OECD, the number of unemployed workers continued to fall in October 2021; however, among the countries with the highest unemployment rates was Spain with 14.5%, placing it at the top; next was Colombia, with 13%, and in the third position is Greece with 12.9%.

On the other hand, the lowest levels of unemployment were observed in the Czech Republic, with 2.6%, and in Japan, with 2.7%.

In general figures, the OECD pointed out that the monthly unemployment rate in the countries part of its conglomerate fell for the sixth consecutive month in October 2021, but at a slower pace than in previous months.

In addition, it highlighted that for December, 38.2 million people in its member countries were unemployed, that is, 2.8 million more than before the pandemic, of which 4.5 million were people under 25 years of age and of the total some 3.2 million are Colombians.

The countries with the highest number of people looking for a job were the United States (7.42 million), Spain (3.38 million), Colombia (3.2 million), Italy (2.37 million), France (2.29 million), and Mexico (2.27 million).

Regarding Colombia, in the figures, the organization indicated that a “particular” case was taking place since its unemployment figures have fallen “relatively little” since the peak of the coronavirus and in comparison to the figures it had in February during 2020.

SABER PRO TESTS

With the confirmation that in 2022 all institutions will have to return to face-to-face in the different institutions of primary and secondary education throughout the national territory, the Ministry of National Education and the Colombian Institute for the Evaluation of Education (ICFES) is looking for alternatives for the application of the Saber 3°, 5°, 7°, and 9° tests.

This year, the entity confirmed that the basic competencies tests would be administered electronically and in person, thanks to the experience acquired in recent years by ICFES in tests under this modality, such as Pre Saber, Saber TyT, and Saber Pro. As confirmed, the Institute is working on the strategic distribution of several computer equipment and connectivity in educational establishments and students by region so that all students can access the tests electronically.

One of the novelties of this 2022 is that, in addition, the tests will be conducted twice a year, as confirmed by Mónica Ospina, the director of the Colombian Institute for the Evaluation of Education (ICFES) to El Colombiano.

Given the connection problems that occurred during last year’s tests, Ospina Londoño explained that this time, “if the student has lost internet connection, once they have started the evaluation, they will be able to continue answering, since they will see the questions, while the answers will be stored locally and will be synchronized once the connection is re-established”.