AmCham Romania calls for the introduction of digital skills classes in school

Four hundred and thirty 4th grade students from Bucharest and Ilfov, together with their teachers, will be introduced to digital technologies developed by 12 AmCham member-firms between May 17- June 4, 2019, during the collaborative project – Start Digital @ Clasa a 4-a, organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania.

On this occasion, students, primary school teachers, ITC teachers and experts from participating companies will have the opportunity to develop and test accessible solutions for teaching digital skills in school.

Start Digital @ Clasa a 4-a is AmCham Romania’s call to all relevant stakeholders to align and adopt priorities and measures set forth by the EU for developing digital education, by also providing the needed funding in Romania in order to ensure its citizens’ access to present and future digital opportunities.

On site company visits organized during the Start Digital @ Clasa a 4-a project aims to stimulate children’s curiosity and interest in new technology by creating an interactive space for learning. Companies will use this occasion to raise students’ and teachers’ awareness on the challenges of digital transformation by providing relevant information, including online bullying, fake news or personal data security breaches, to name a few.

“Societies and economies are more and more digitalized. We must equip the new generations to use the opportunities that this digital transformation will bring forth. This means that investments are necessary for education and for programs that develop children’s digital competences. With Start Digital @ Clasa a 4-a we emphasize the need for reforming the education system and for integrating technology in education. Moreover, we want to stimulate students’ interest in studying information and communication technology (TIC) as well as science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), said Elisabeta Moraru, AmCham Romania Vice-president.

Digital competence for citizens, which provides the basis for present and future professions not only in the IT sector, include digital skills in five areas: education in the field of information and data, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, safety and welfare, as well as problem solving, according to European Commission Communication regarding the Plan of Action for digital education, January 2018.

Through this initiative, AmCham Romania underscores the need for our society’s need to invest in the development of children’s digital competences as early as possible through the context of a formal education program. Education in this domain highlights the need of a life-long learning process, which is essential for Romania’s alignment in the new digital era.

The first part of Start Digital @ Clasa a 4-a will be followed by compiling a series of requirements and recommendations to guide teachers and experts in the private sector as they collaborate to identify the best in class methods to teach digital competences to future generations of students.