Drucker: Over 730 Schools Received New Modern Equipment under DigiEDU Programme

Bratislava, 21 May (TASR) - Over 730 schools have already received new modern equipment under the DigiEDU programme funded from the recovery plan, with a total of some 45,000 pieces of digital technology distributed, Education Minister Tomas Drucker (Voice-SD) told a news conference held at a primary school on Holicska Street in Bratislava on Wednesday. According to Drucker, the DigiEDU programme is the biggest project for digitising Slovak schools and envisages the distribution of some 130,000 pieces of digital technology, which the ministry will hand over to primary and secondary schools. The equipment will be introduced into schools gradually in 13 stages, with the fourth one currently being completed. "The digital equipment that schools receive is designed for both students and teachers. It includes new computers, interactive whiteboards, laptops for teachers and tablets for students' work at school. At the same time, we'll supply them with software licences that are used by teachers and students and that they can also use at home. These licences also contain some elements of the use of artificial intelligence," said Drucker. The DigiEDU programme, whose budget is almost €225 million, also includes the building of data and network infrastructure. Network elements and secure and sufficiently strong internet connections should be installed at 12 schools in Zilina region in the near future. The programme also includes training for teachers; some 50,000 teachers have undergone 21st Century Teacher training, of which 15,000 focused on digital skills. ko/df