Education and Science, Estonia, Technology

The head of the Development Fund Ott Pärna noted that the computers are present in schools, now there is need to start using them properly.

"We stand on the brink of the era when the technology is broadening the understanding of traditional lesson, allowing to bond different subjects and problems of everyday life," said Pärna.

The report on usage of ICT in education, presented on August 30 by the Development Fund, presents a roadmap enabling Estonia to reform education system from class-oriented into pupil-centred style. The Minister of Education and Science Tõnis Lukas marked on the possibility of drawing together better the worlds of pupils and teachers through the use of ICT.

Of the problems standing before educational system ICT presents solutions to taking into better account the individuality of a pupil, to altering the teaching into more creative and problem-based process and to secure to every pupil the possibility of learning from the best materials and from highly valued teachers.

To achieve the goals, presented in the report, the main role is played by the leader, foreperson or organization, who would attend to the coordination of learning materials, to the elating of school directors and teachers and to the including of the pupils. The forward-looking school directors must be credited and supported. For endorsing the initiative of teachers the Innovation Fund has to be established, to enable the start of pilot projects for testing ITK solutions and spread the experience. Sensible would be to start the introduction of ITK solutions from science classes as the interest of pupils to participate in these is the lowest while the need of the society for future specialist is the highest.