The Valais digital education strategy is under wraps. Its principles have been validated by the Council of State. It provides for standardization of digital equipment in schools and an educational approach in step with the times.
The State of Valais will accelerate the development of digital skills among students in the canton from 1H to the end of secondary II, including in vocational education.
The approach presented Tuesday morning at a press conference in Sion concerns some 60,000 students and 5,200 teachers. ‘Among these, 3,700 have already followed training,’ explains Christophe Germanier, the project manager. Training for compulsory education teachers started in 2019 in Haut-Valais and in 2023 in French-speaking Valais.
Adapting to a changing world
The objective of the Valais authorities is that at the end of their training, students will have the necessary skills to operate in a digital environment. ‘We must prepare the new generation for the world of tomorrow’, summarizes the State Councilor in charge of the economy and training, Christophe Darbellay.
For the Education Service, ‘digital education must enable students to acquire fundamental digital skills, thus guaranteeing the minimum foundation necessary to act in society, pursue higher education and access the job market.’
A positive aspect of Covid
‘Our society continues to evolve very quickly. Digital skills have become fundamental, believes Christophe Germanier. Students will thus gradually be led to search for, analyze and evaluate information, as well as to solve computer problems.
‘Our ambition is very clear. We cannot ignore digital technology, the population and businesses demand it,” continues Christophe Darbellay. ‘Paradoxically, Covid has made it possible to gain 10 years in the development of digital technology.’
Vaudoise and Alemannic methods chosen
In French-speaking Valais, ‘Dé>coding’ is the educational method that was chosen for the 1H-8H period. It was jointly set up by UNIL, EPFL and HEP-VD. During the orientation cycle, the ‘Connected’ method developed by the Universities of Teacher Education of Western Switzerland and Lucerne was retained.
‘Books and paper are not going to disappear’, Christophe Darbellay reassured, ‘Most of the lessons will not be given in front of a screen and we will continue to learn to write, read and calculate. Simply, we add a layer of digital.’ Students from 1H to 6H will share tablets. They will become individual for the rest of their studies.
Creation of a dedicated office
A digital education office was established by the Council of State with the mission of piloting and coordinating the implementation of said strategy. It will benefit from a volume of 13.5 positions (full-time equivalent), via transfers. Some 6.7 million francs will be invested by the State over five years. The municipalities will also participate in the financing.
/ATS
