There is a significant number of computers in the system of secondary education, but there is no complete understanding of their condition and how many of them are actually functioning. This was stated by the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Liliya Hrynevych, during a meeting with Natalia Dorosh, head of work with Microsoft Ukraine educational institutions.
"We cannot start the process of creating an informational educational space without a clear understanding of what tools we have and how many children at school actually have access to computers. Thus, we need to conduct an audit of the equipment and plan further computerization based on its results," Liliya Hrynevych explained.
Nataliya Dorosh emphasized that the company "Microsoft Ukraine" is interested in helping the Ministry of Education and Culture conduct such an inventory.
"We can count on such a project from Microsoft Ukraine." Obviously, it is simply impossible to implement intelligent computerization without a clear understanding of what you have. In addition, I know that you have plans to expand access to high-speed Internet in schools. So, I think, such an audit will help to understand where in schools there are really computers connected to the Internet, and how it works," said the head of work with educational institutions of Microsoft Ukraine.
She also said that as part of Microsoft's previously proposed vision for the introduction of ICT within the secondary education reform, the company is ready to completely refurbish the 1st grade in the pilot elementary school according to the principle of "1 student - 1 computer".
"It is about a complete re-equipment of the classroom - installation of an interactive whiteboard, teacher's and students' computers, access to the Internet and installation of educational programs on the device. The only thing that is very important for us is that it is one of the pilot schools of the New Ukrainian School with an active, ready-to-change teacher, located somewhere in the countryside, where the possibility of such a transformation at the expense of budget funds is very small," Nataliya Dorosh explained.
Lilia Hrynevych supported such an initiative, and also noted that a separate competition for schools should be held for this project.
"In principle, I agree with your understanding of how the project should be selected. I would also like to add that it should be an institution on the basis of which the teacher can later share knowledge with other teachers on how to productively use teaching equipment. This should also be an investment in the further transformation of the education system in general," the Minister noted.
We remind you that in 2016 the Government of the People's Republic of China provided technical assistance to the Government of Ukraine in the form of the transfer of 23,500 computers for secondary schools. At that time, the company "Microsoft Ukraine" provided MON 90% with a discount on the installation of licensed software for this equipment - an operating system, a package of office and antivirus programs.