November 10 (SeeNews) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) signed a 1.2 million euro ($1.4 million) grant for supporting the implementation of a digital transition programme at Serbian schools, it said.
The Connected Schools programme enables first-hand training in digital areas for teachers and pupils across Serbia, EIB said in a statement on Tuesday.
Connected Schools is also aligned with the Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans to ensure all sectors benefit from digital opportunities, contributing to a sustainable, climate-neutral and resource-efficient economy, and better governance and public services for the citizens, the bank said.
"By ensuring implementation of best practices and maximum utilisations of EIB funds previously allocated in Connect Schools project, we are supporting generations of pupils in gaining necessary digital skills and competences, which are going to change the future economic landscape of the country," vice-president Lilyana Pavlova, responsible for the EIB’s activities in Serbia, said.
The funding complements the 65 million euro EIB loan signed in 2020 for improving digital capacities and skills in over 1,500 schools across Serbia, the bank noted.
"Within the project Connected Schools, wireless local internet network has been installed in 930 schools already. We expect to cover over 1800 schools in the course of project implementation, which will create conditions for systematic digitalisation of education system in Serbia," Serbian trade, tourism and telecommunications minister Tatjana Matic stated.
($ = 0.86365 euro)