In the new programming period, the European Union is providing more funding for education and youth. Technology alone does not change anything, but in the hands of trained teachers, it can transform the learning process. This is what EU Commissioner for Innovation, Education and Youth Maria Gabriel, stated, as quoted by the portal Economic.bg, during the conference “Education from A to #. The Innovative School”, which is being held today in Sofi.
EC in support of innovative teaching
The fact that financial resources for education and innovation, including digital skills, are provided even in the corona crisis rescue package presented by the EC in May, was also mentioned during the conference. Funds will also be available under the Horizon Europe Programme and the digitization programme.
The next challenge is how to transfer the financial resources where they are truly needed and where they will bring real effects. One of the main beneficiaries will be the teachers, stressed the European Commissioner, who joined the conference remotely from Brussels. Gabriel hinted at the European Erasmus + Teachers’ Academy, with the aim of working harder towards innovative teaching.
Successful exchange of experience between European communities
Noting that the coronavirus crisis has pushed educational institutions across Europe towards digitalisation, Maria Gabriel stressed the need to speed up the process and increase digital skills, ensure equal access to education and adapt content. According to her, the communities have done well with the exchange of experience and this is one of the things that the EC will continue to support.
The question, according to Gabriel, is how to make out the best from our weaknesses. She noted that the focus of the EU remains on students and that even more attention will be paid to teachers.
Under the auspices of Gabriel, the EU Digital Education Action Plan is currently being launched and will be presented in September by the Commission, following a public consultation. Commissioner Gabriel also announced her intention to launch a campaign aimed at young people.
The experience of Sofia
The Mayor of Sofia Yordanka Fandakova, also present at the conference, put further emphasis on young people. According to her, opportunities and goals that have been set for education years ago have begun to be realized quickly, thanks to digital technologies. For her, the direction of development of secondary education is now clear.
Fandakova also pointed out that 50% of the kindergartens in Sofia have managed to implement online activities for children, and 20% of the network of innovative schools in the country are in Sofia.
Boyan Tomov, media expert and founder of TheMayor.EU – the European portal for cities and citizens, who opened the conference, reminded that it is the mayors who face the challenge to consistently deal with the dynamic and unpredictable situation of education. He stressed the need for business to be involved in supporting digital education.
The conference “Education from A to #” is organized by Economic.bg, NOVA News, Dir.bg and Kmeta.bg. It is held outdoors in Sofia Tech Park with limited access due to the epidemiological measures that currently in place.
Source: TheMayor.EU
