Digitalisation Delay in Schools: Brandsburg's Minister of Education Addresses the Shortfall
**Potsdam (dpa) - Britta Ernst, the future president of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK), vows an unprecedented "digital catch-up" in Brandenburg's schools. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a regrettable backlog in digitization as municipalities and schools grappled with pandemic management, she explained to the Handelsblatt.
Luckily, catch-up efforts are now underway. Brandenburg is on track to draw down federal funds from the Digital Pact by the end of this year. Ernst will assume the KMK presidency at the start of 2021. She's already advocating for the continuation of federal aid beyond 2024, when the Digital Pact's five billion euro budget runs out. "The challenge will not be over," she says, emphasizing the need for the combined effort of federal, state, and municipal authorities.
The Digital Pact commenced mid-2019, but, as of June 2020, only 16 million euros had been disbursed by the federal government. Ernst envisions digital aids not only benefiting school management, but also enhancing teaching quality and Germany's international student standing. Teachers could better cater to individual student abilities by offering tailored tasks and resources via digital media.
Ernst advocates for intensified teacher training in media handling and pledges a "massive expansion" of such programs in Brandenburg. Acknowledging that German teachers typically lag in international ranking, she attributes this gap to a lack of adequate digital tools. Going forward, she suggests implementing short, school-based training modules and integrating digital media training at the university level for aspiring teachers in all subjects.
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Some Context:
This push for digital education in Brandenburg aligns with a broader trend in Germany, where institutions strive to integrate digital tools and methods into their curricula. For instance, the University of Potsdam participates in initiatives like the EDUC Think Lab, which focuses on digital advancements within the European University Alliance. This focus on digital literacy and innovative learning underscores the importance of integrating digital media in education.
Digital media can improve teaching effectiveness by enhancing engagement, facilitating personalized learning, and providing access to a wealth of educational resources. In an increasingly digital world, the integration of digital media can help boost Germany's competitiveness, foster innovation, and promote global collaboration.
For a "massive expansion" of teacher training in Brandenburg to yield meaningful results, it would likely require comprehensive programs, infrastructure investment, and the integration of digital literacy into the curriculum.
- Britta Ernst, the future president of KMK, aims to share the benefits of digital media in education beyond school management, envisioning it as a means to improve teaching quality and elevate Germany's international student standing.
- To achieve a comprehensive digital catch-up in Brandenburg's schools, Ernst advocates for the integration of digital literacy into teacher training programs, promising a "massive expansion" of such initiatives and suggesting the implementation of short school-based modules and digital media training at university level for aspiring teachers in all subjects.
