-
The Council of Ministers authorizes the necessary agreements with the Autonomous Communities for the acquisition of connected computer equipment for educational centers supported with public funds
- This action, which will allow the mobilization of 176 million euros co-financed with ERDF funds, is aimed at closing during the 2020-2021 academic year the technological social gap derived from the lack of equipment in families so that children can benefit from education through digital media
- The next step will be the launch of tenders by Red.es for the purchase of equipment and the implementation of the other two legs of the program: the training of teachers and the development of techniques and artificial intelligence platforms to improve management in education
The Council of Ministers has authorized the signing of twelve agreements to launch the Educa en Digital program in eleven Autonomous Communities, in addition to the Autonomous Cities of Ceuta and Melilla.
This authorization is a necessary step for the acquisition of computer equipment with connectivity, intended for students from families at risk who are enrolled in educational centers supported with public funds. In this way, the Government is making progress in an action aimed at closing the digital gap in access to technology that became more evident after the closure of educational centers last March.
These twelve agreements involve activating the mobilization of more than 176 million euros that are co-financed through the autonomous communities and cities, FEDER funds and Red.es, a public company attached to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, through the Secretariat State of Digitization and Artificial Intelligence.
Specifically, the signing of agreements with Andalusia, Catalonia, the Community of Madrid, the Basque Country, Castilla-La Mancha, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, the Region of Murcia, Aragon, La Rioja and Galicia, as well as the Autonomous Cities of Ceuta, has been authorized. and Melilla. We are already working actively with the rest of the Autonomous Communities to be able to process the necessary agreements and to be able to launch the program throughout the national territory as soon as possible.
Action against the digital divide
The Educa en Digital program seeks to promote the digital transformation of education in Spain in several areas. The first, already mentioned, to make connected computer equipment available to students who require it, so that they can be available throughout the current 2020-2021 academic year.
On the other hand, it contemplates addressing the digital training of teaching staff to adapt teaching methodologies to a virtual context. It also implies the implementation of assistance platforms for teachers, students and educational authorities through the application of Artificial Intelligence. This development will allow the establishment of personalized itineraries for students, a more effective monitoring of their progress and an individualized analysis of their evolution by the teaching body.
With the authorization of these agreements by the Council of Ministers, the Governing Councils of each Community and Autonomous Cities that have not done so must already authorize their subscription. Likewise, the Red.es Board of Directors must approve them. Once signed, registered and published in the BOE and, where appropriate, in the corresponding regional Official Gazettes, the agreements will allow bidding for the acquisition of the required equipment.
Economic contributions
The approved agreements state that the main budgetary allocations correspond to Andalusia, with 100 million euros, Catalonia, with more than 21 million euros, and the Community of Madrid, with 13.7 million euros. The distribution is made according to the needs of each territory.
See box
Compartir
Tweet
