The government decided Monday that the supplementary budget for fiscal 2000 will not cover "IT cards" that would have subsidized tuition for Internet-related courses, government officials said.

The officials said the proposal, aimed at spreading the use of computers and the Internet by the general public, was scrapped because it was unlikely to win support from within the ruling coalition.

Under the plan, advocated by Economic Planning Agency chief Taichi Sakaiya, cards would be passed out to individuals over 20 who want to learn how to use PCs. The card holders would be eligible for subsidies covering half their tuition.