The Data Bank of the Ministry of Industries and Scientific Affairs at NIBM, developed with ILO‐UNDP assistance, was a major effort in computer use for planning and control in Government. The project started in 1978 and covered over 20 public enterprises. The Data Bank itself has not been a success, even though much effort was expended; several factors contributed to its failure. The project, however, had secondary objectives and has been a resounding success in one of these, computer education.