“Digitalization is a mission possible only if it is built on a sound IT foundation” – Meta.mk News Agency
New digital learning materials as part of the new Primary Education Concept, electronic tools, interactive whiteboards, electronic registration for high school enrollment, electronic application for a scholarship, for a student bed in a dormitory, keeping records in an electronic way… These are just a few of the opportunities and services that are part of the educational system in N. Macedonia.
The authorities often say that the digitization of education is a condition for the digital transformation of the entire society. However, the question that arises is whether it is first necessary to provide quality IT foundation so that the electronic school records are properly used in practice, and the student is able to apply online for a bed in a dormitory.
Although the educational system of N. Macedonia is lagging behind with the introduction of electronic services, the process should not be rushed just for that reason, without having a good foundation, i.e. servers that will not crash or be susceptible to hacker attacks. The position of the Youth Educational Forum (YEF) is that a solid IT foundation is a priority.
“This kind of haste only worsens the problem and creates additional work for professors and teachers, who have to work with both electronic and printed versions of school records, indexes, etc.,” YEF says.
Students want a digital form of exam registration
YEF has worked on a project called “Student Action for Digitized Educational Services” through which a digital tool was developed (through an organised student hackathon) to reduce the number of unreported grades and lost paper exam applications, specifically for Ss. Cyril and Methodius University. It has been noted that higher education institutions are paying special attention and are planning to introduce digitization of teaching, new innovative teaching methods, investment in ICT assets and the like.
“There is an obvious discrepancy between what educational institutions plan to digitize and what students expect. Namely, students are more hoping for digitization of the administrative procedures of the faculties, which are in abundance, in order to reduce waiting in lines in student services, spending money on exam registrations, semester certificates, payment of tuition fees, problems with lost registrations, indexes, payment slips. There is a discrepancy between what institutions have planned and the services that students hope will be available to them. They would rather accept a digital form of registering for an exam, than a smart board or new innovative methods of learning from home”, YEF says.
It was also noted that digitization is a costly process and UKIM as the largest university in the country, which includes a large number of faculties with different levels of digitization, and at the same time operates on the basis of archiving all documents in printed form, cannot go through the digitization process as fast as required, or at the same speed as other private and public, far smaller universities.
What the educational authorities announced last year is that according to the Primary Education Concept, textbooks in digital form are planned, which will not be just ordinary textbooks attached online in pdf format but should offer a certain interaction, i.e. an opportunity for students to solve quizzes, tasks and the like. Does our country have the money and capacity to enable something like this? According to YEF, this is unlikely.
“Digitalization is an expensive process, which needs to be constantly updated and “guarded” against hacker attacks, that’s why it is being delayed. IT people are required to monitor and update those interactive programs for students. The dean of FISCE (Faculty of Information Sciences and Computer Engineering) emphasized that it is very difficult to retain/attract IT staff to work in UKIM because the faculties cannot offer the monetary compensation that the person receives in other private businesses. It is unlikely that there is money and capacity to introduce such programs”, the organization believes.
The Minister of Education and Science Jeton Shaqiri, on the other hand, believes that with the new Primary Education Concept, digitalization in education has risen to a higher level, as a way of getting closer to the global trends of quality education.
“Since the beginning of the past school year, the new digital learning materials have been in use, according to the new curricula for the fourth grade. In the next school year, interactive materials will be used by fifth-grade students, and the phased introduction is in line with the development of skills for the application of IT technology and electronic tools. And in the classrooms, we are introducing modern IT technology, interactive boards and other aids that enable better teaching,” said the minister.
Link to the original article: Дигитализацијата е возможна мисија само ако се гради на здрава ИТ основа | Meta.mk
This research story was prepared as part of the project “Increasing Civic Engagement in the Digital Agenda – ICEDA”, co-financed by the European Union and implemented by the Metamorphosis Foundation (North Macedonia), the Academy for e-Government (Estonia), the Movement Enough! (Albania), Partners for Democratic Change Serbia (Serbia), NGO 35mm (Montenegro) and Open Data Kosovo (Kosovo).
This research story was prepared with the financial support of the European Union. The content of the research story is the sole responsibility of the Metamorphosis Foundation and the author and in no way reflects the views of the European Union.
Share:
Other blog texts
Every minister boasted and took pictures about the project "One Point for Services" but it never succeeded
28.04.2023
Collage of the visits of government officials to the offices of “One point for services” / Photo: State institutions The offices “One Point for Services” that were opened in Skopje, Kumanovo, Ohrid, Bitola and Tetovo in order for the citizens to say “goodbye” to waiting at the counters, will be closed and in their […]
Protecting Your Digital Identity: The Importance of "Cyber Hygiene"
25.04.2023
In today’s digital age, it’s more important than ever to take steps to protect yourself from cyber threats. From viruses and malware to phishing scams and identity theft, there are a host of risks that can compromise your personal information and wreak havoc on your devices. That’s why practicing good cyber hygiene is essential to […]
Communicating digital transformation to the citizens – an important contribution to bridging the gap
24.04.2023
Digital transformation is changing our lives in ways we could not have imagined even a few decades ago. It has brought new opportunities and challenges, and it is transforming the way we live, work, and communicate with each other. However, communicating digital transformation to citizens can be a challenge, especially in the Western Balkans, where […]
Institutions as a cause of privacy breaches in the media
19.04.2023
Even if competent state authorities disclose private data of a perpetrator or a victim, media must not transmit that information. An error on the part of state authorities does not imply a “permission” for the violation of ethical principles of the profession. This is what the Serbian Journalists’ Code of Ethics says, but media practice […]
"ADA", the digital assistant based on artificial intelligence that will provide the citizens with information about state aid - Meta.mk News Agency
10.04.2023
The digital assistant “ADA”; Photo: Government of the Republic of North Macedonia Investors and citizens will be able to receive information about the state aid programs of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia through the first digital assistant “ADA” which is based on artificial intelligence. This is the information provided by the Cabinet […]
The application of artificial intelligence in state institutions is useful, however it is dangerous if misused - Meta.mk News Agency
09.04.2023
Photo: Pixabay.com Portalb.mk writes that the use of artificial intelligence in the public sector would help to increase the quality of services, to save citizens’ time and money, but also to prevent corruption. However, if AI is used non-transparently, the consequences outweigh the benefits. This is what experts say about the impact of artificial intelligence […]