Schools ushered into the digital age

Education Ministry plans to introduce robotics, interactive whiteboards this academic year

As part of the effort to digitally transform school education, the Education Ministry plans to introduce interactive whiteboards and robotics systems. The supply and installation of these systems will, for instance, allow a student to learn about changes in the human body not just theoretically with pictures in their textbooks, but also through an interactive whiteboard or a machine – a robot that they have built themselves. The same can happen with foreign languages or geography.

The new technology aims to enhance the implementation of the new curriculum drafted by the ministry with its Institute of Education Policy (IEP) and the new philosophy it brings to the educational process, placing emphasis on experiential learning and the enhancement of students' skills.

In particular, the ministry will install 36,000 interactive systems in primary, secondary and vocational education schools throughout the country. The project has a budget of €148 million. “With the aim of substantially enhancing the digital transformation of education, the use of new technology is being introduced at the heart of the educational process, in the classroom,” the ministry says.

The second action concerns robotics. More specifically, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools nationwide will be provided with robotics kits. Each kit is made up of building blocks and software, allowing construction and programming and forming a complete project. The project has a budget of €30 million.

IEP's stated objective is for educational robotics to have a positive impact in the cognitive, emotional (self-confidence, self-esteem) and social (socialization, demystification of difficulties) domains. Moreover, by integrating it into teaching, teachers can focus on familiarizing students with programming and technology, problem-solving, promoting educational innovation and strengthening teamwork.

The gradual delivery of the equipment to the school units around the country will begin within the 2022-23 school year. Training activities are also planned for teachers, as is the creation of relevant educational material and a help desk. The total investment for digital transformation in education reached approximately €365 million and is being implemented under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and funded by the NextGenerationEU instrument.