Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

State Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications of the Government of the Republic of Serbia Tatjana Matić noted on 8 June that the digitalization of education is a priority for this ministry, stating that a lot has been done in this sector during recent years.

Matić, speaking at the opening of the conference and fair “New Technologies in Education” at Belexpo Center, recalled that the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, has initiated the capital “Project for the improvement of information-communication infrastructure in schools in the Republic of Serbia”.

During last year the configuration of the networking of 1,612 primary and secondary schools into the Academic Network of Serbia has been completed, she noted, adding that all schools have thus gained free-of-charge and safe internet connections with the option of using international educational services.

Our next step is securing digital teaching services, with the goal being full implementation of new technologies in education, and the introduction of the concept of working on one’s own device. The Ministry has allocated RSD 200 million for this year for 200 primary and secondary schools that will, in accordance with the selection by the Ministry of Education, enter into this programme, said Matić.

She added that last year, in cooperation with Microsoft, another important infrastructural project of introducing WiFi into schools in rural areas has been completed for 40 primary and secondary schools, and institutional support was provided for the regional project “Schools for the 21st Century” by the British Council.

Matić invited teachers to take part in the “Digital Class” competition. This competition has been implemented six times to date, gathering approximately 1,500 teaching units covered using new technologies and available online.

Systematic support for the digitalization of formal education will contribute, inter alia, to the development of human resources in IT, a strategic goal defined by the Strategy for the Development of the IT Industry. However, innovative teaching will stimulate the development of digital skills that will be necessary for all future jobs, said Matić.

Taken from: www.srbija.gov.rs