Experts from World Bank and Latin American and Caribbean countries discussed digital technology in education in times of pandemics. The online event was organized around three aspects of digital technology: access for all, access to digital finance and the importance of digital technology in education.
Heli Aru-Chabilan from Estonian Education and Youth Board shared the Estonian experience of integrating ICT into education. „One needs to pay attention to the overall development of a system. Investments into infrastructure, devices, digital learning material and teachers’ skills is a must. But you need to develop also the private sector side as EdTech solutions currently go through major developments that affect deeply how we learn in the 21st century“.
See also: Educational innovation in Estonia — getting ready for the future
In Estonia, starting from Tiger Leap program 24 years ago ICT in education and digital skills have been a strategic focus for all coalition governments. With innovative approaches both from the private and public sector, students have the possibility to learn ICT competencies from early ages and test their skills in different kind of challenges and competitions.
Other experts at the seminar included Mrs Boutheina Guermazi, World Bank Director for Digital Development, Mr Iván Mantilla, Vice-minister of Information and Communication Technology, Colombia, Mr Christian Tondo, Director, Department of Financial Inclusion, Paraguay, Mr José Monges Galeano, Commercial Director of Tigo Money, Franz Drees-Gross, Director of the World Bank’s Transport & ICT Global Practice, and Mr Miguel Brechner Fey, the founder of the well-known Plan Ceibal of Uruguay.
The online event “Rethinking the digital future” was hosted by Mr Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Watch the recording of the November 17th webinar with the English translation (also available in Spanish):
