site.btaSchools in Bulgaria to Form "Digital Leader" Teams to Support ICT Integration

Teams of “digital leaders” will be established in Bulgarian schools. These will be teachers or other specialists who will take a leading role in working with information technologies, developing innovative lessons and supporting other educators. The creation of such teams is part of the international project titled “Supporting the Digital Transformation of Schools in Bulgaria and Slovakia through Team-Based Approaches”, whose official launch was announced by Deputy Education and Science Minister Nikolay Vitanov at a forum in Sofia on Thursday. Vitanov welcomed participants from both countries on behalf of caretaker Education and Science Minister Sergei Ignatov, the Education and Science Ministry said in a press release.

The initiative is funded by the European Union through the Technical Support Instrument and is implemented by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in cooperation with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support.

The joint project between Bulgaria and Slovakia focuses on improving the coordination of information and communication technologies (ICT) at school level. Its main goal is to shift from individual efforts to structured, team-based approaches. This includes training teams of digital leaders in schools, as well as developing practical guidelines, a sustainable funding model and an appropriate legal framework for the role of ICT coordinators. The project will also encourage cooperation between the education systems of the two countries.

The forum was attended by experts from the Education Ministry, teachers, school principals and education specialists from Bulgaria and Slovakia.

Online addresses were delivered by Judit Rozsa – Director of the Technical Support Instrument at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Reforms, Paulo Santiago – Head of the Policy Advice and Implementation Division at the OECD Directorate for Education and Skills, and Michal Rybar, Director of the Digital Transformation Directorate at the Slovak Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sport.