Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is in the curriculum of first grades in selected pilot schools in Albania for the academic year 2022-2023. But in the same year, 91 public educational institutions were equipped with depreciated computers. The increase in funds within the digitalization of schools is not enough and teachers are facing difficulties in their work.
Author: Dallandyshe Xhaferri
At the start of the 2022-2023 school year, the former Ministry of Education, Evis Kushi, presented as an innovation the inclusion of the subject of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) in the curriculum of the first grades in 100 pilot schools. In the context of the digitization of teaching Services, the enrichment of laboratories and school libraries, for the first time in the budget of the Ministry of Education and Sports, a higher amount of money will be allocated compared to previous years.
"This year, a very high budget has been allocated, like never before, 5 million euros,"- tha Who.
According to public data, 10 million ALL from the budget of the Ministry of Education for the year 2023 went for the purchase of electronic equipment, computers for public schools of basic education.
We directed you to the General Directorate of Pre-University Education to find out if public schools are equipped with technological tools such as computers, which are necessary in teaching in the context of the inclusion of digitization in the teaching curricula.
In the response received by "Sinjalizo" from this directorate, it is stated that for the 2022-2023 school year, the number of public schools equipped with depreciated, i.e. non-functional, computers reaches 91.
"From the processed information (received by DRAPs) it results that the number of educational institutions with functional computers is 1090 against the 1181 public educational institutions we have in total,"- is written in the response of the General Directorate of Pre-University Education.
In other words, based on these figures, it results that in basic education institutions there is less than one functional computer per school.
The MAS budget has again recognized the increase for 2024. It increased by 10.7% compared to last year, reaching the value of 52 billion and 223 million ALL. From this budget, 110 million ALL has been approved to be made available for the purchase of electronic equipment and computers for basic education. "The budget will finance the creation of friendly classrooms for the installation of 216 Smart Labs, which will enable the expansion of programs from the first, second grade and beyond of the new coding curriculum in schools and will also continue the support with the didactic equipment of science laboratories in schools,"- it is said in MAS official website, although the teaching of Information Technology for the first grades has started since the last academic year, 2022-2023.
ICT in schools without computers
Despite the increase and forecast of the MAS budget for the digitization of schools, teachers of the ICT subject this academic year also face the lack of infrastructure to carry out the lesson in the right way.
Gerta K., ICT teacher for 5 years in Tirana, admits to "Sinjalizo" that even in cases where public schools, 9-year old or High School, have computer rooms, the computers are not always functional.
"They have computer rooms, but not all the computers always work. I don't believe that it is necessary only with these conditions, we need more updated ones, which means functional computers based on the Internet, electronic boards, projectors,"- she says, adding that in cases where teachers lack digital equipment in schools, they find the solution individually. "When the equipment is missing, use a personal computer, laptop or the student's textbook"
Teachers have not hesitated to share the problem of the lack of computer equipment in public schools even on online platforms. "I am a teacher of the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) subject, I have a question, how do you conduct the first grade lesson since you do not have an ICT laboratory (without computers). Please help me a little from your experience, how you are doing the lesson", - this is one of the many anonymous posts on the platform "Teachers for Teachers", where teachers ask for help from each other's experience to carry out lessons at a time when schools lack the necessary infrastructure.
AT, a primary school teacher in one of Berat's 9-year schools, tells "Sinjalizo" that the number of computers in schools is not enough for each class.
"In terms of ICT, it is a cabinet. I have sent students there twice since the beginning of the academic year. The reason is that they are busy with 9-year-old classes. There are 3-4 parallels, it is not the turn of the fourth and fifth classes", - she says, adding that another issue is the updating of Information Technology books in schools.
"I, as a parent, ask my child to account why he gets this grade in ICT and he answers me that the program included in the book is not updated like in the computer. I received this answer three years ago from one of my primary school students, that he was confused between the information in the book about the program and what he saw on the screen".
Millions of ALL for digitization since 2015
For almost a decade, the digitization of schools, the creation of smart classrooms and the provision of digital educational Services have been designated as priorities by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
In 2015, the then Minister of Education and Sports, Lindita Nikolla stated that through the $3.5 million project, all high schools in the country would be able to have their own digital classrooms.
"Thanks to the investment of 3.5 million dollars of the Albanian government, this new methodology in intelligent classes is now a reality in 60 high schools across the country, and I believe that the results of the students will be a model of success. We are determined not only to make this methodology efficient in other subjects as well, but to extend it to all high schools," - Nikola said, emphasizing that intelligent classes were the implementation of the government program, while the creation of SMIP (Pre-University Information Management System) online registers would not be left behind.
Also, also Prime Minister Rama during the public appearance at the "Sami Frashëri" gymnasium, he said at the time that within 2018 all gymnasiums in the country would move to the digitization phase.
"In three years, all high schools in our country will pass from the stage where they are today, to this new stage of modernization of the knowledge system", - declared the Prime Minister. After almost 4 years since 2018, digitization has not yet been extended to all secondary schools in the country, while in the pilot schools that were included in this project in 2015, digital classrooms have limited use.
Bukurija, a former graduate of the "Dhaskal Todri" school in Elbasan, says that digital classes are used by students only when they have to present projects in certain subjects.
"There are 2 digital classrooms and they are used by students when they present their projects at the end of the quarter or at the end of the year. It depends on the importance of the task given by the teacher", - she explains.
While the budget for digitization increases, educational institutions continue to face the lack of technological infrastructure. In addition to the difficulties of developing the ICT subject, according to the International Student Assessment Program "PISA 2022" for 15-year-old students, Albania ranked 62nd in the ranking of 80 countries participating in the assessment.
According to the results of the assessment of students' knowledge, Albania has dropped by 47 points in reading from 2018, receiving 358 points. Meanwhile, in science, students' knowledge was assessed with 376 points, 41 points less than in 2018.
This article was created based on input provided by individuals who have chosen to speak up. Share your story, empower others and be an agent for change. Visit the website: www.acqj.al/sinjalizo-dhe-ti/
