The government has allocated €6.5 million to buy new computers to enable students to take digital tests, but headteachers warn it may be too late.
On Thursday the government approved in the Council of Ministers more than 6.5 million euros for the purchase of new computers to ensure all students have the equipment to take national tests digitally.
At stake are 2nd, 5th and 8th year students who will begin assessment tests in May, as well as 9th year students who will sit national exams in June.
Since last year, parents and principals have been warning about a gradual increase in the number of faulty computers being left in schools due to lack of warranty and who can fix them, and now the Ministry of Education has decided to allocate funds to replace damaged ones. equipment.
National Association of School Leaders President Manuel Pereira welcomes the availability of funds, but warns they are arriving late.
“Money for repairing computers or buying new ones is always welcome, even if it will be used next year,” said Manuel Pereira to Luse, explaining that the public administration must comply with the rules: “We have to hold competitions and all that. There are deadlines. We don’t We can go to the mall to buy the missing computers.”
A spokesman for school principals warned of other problems he considered more serious, particularly as schools may be limited to using their own computers or asking some pupils to lend equipment to those who do not have one.
Manuel Pereira recalled the lack of IT specialists who could help students and even teachers: “In a group of 700 students, in which the schools are scattered, we have one or two IT teachers,” he explained.
In addition, he added, most children and young people know how to use mobile phones and iPads, “but play games or use social media rather than work, and therefore most students spend more time trying to understand how things work , and answer questions instead.”
“School is a space where democracies are taught, and we cannot move forward in situations in which equality is not guaranteed, when there are children who have the opportunity to use computers and others who do not,” he said, highlighting the fact that 9th grade have a weight of 30% in the final grade of the year.
About two months before the start of assessment tests and national exams, teachers were constantly warned about the lack of facilities for conducting digital tests: in addition to thousands of pieces of equipment damaged, many schools were experiencing problems with the Internet network. and IT is lacking.
It is often IT teachers who provide support and problem solving, but these teachers have announced that they will go on strike on April 8 to maintain equipment and provide technical support during digital exams.
The National Parents’ Confederation is also advocating for a rethink on how fairness will be ensured during digital exams.
The Ministry of Education has decided to implement a project to dematerialize national tests and examinations, starting gradually with assessment tests. This year the project will cover all students taking mock tests and national exams, and next year it should be the turn of 11th and 12th year students to take national exams digitally.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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