New laptops and assistive technology facilitate inclusion and access to education in Sarajevo Canton

Representatives of UNICEF Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina handed over laptops and assistive technology devices to the elementary school "Hilmi ef. Šarić" in Tarčin. Within the Project "Mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on children and families in the Western Balkans and Turkey" funded by the European Union, UNICEF purchased 45 laptops and assistive technology device sets for schools in Sarajevo Canton in a total value of 72,000 KM.

"The European Union supported this project within the context of COVID-19, a problem faced by the whole of Europe. The pandemic caused the necessity to find innovative ways to educate, and this is one of those examples.

We are happy to support the education system in BiH. It is an important segment of the efforts that have been made, and UNICEF has done a great job, by implementing this project," said Stephan Dahlgren, Programme manager for education in the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"During the pandemic, we learned a lot and during that period we researched the ICT resources and capabilities of both primary and secondary schools, which showed that there were 20 students to one computer in BiH, and also that there are many problems with internet connectivity. I think that today's donation will help students in this school to gain access to devices, and I am especially proud that we are supporting them with assistive technologies that will help all children to be fully involved in the learning process," said UNICEF BiH representative Dr Rownak Khan, underlining that quality education in the digital environment is not just about devices:

"Teachers' competencies are key to utilizing the digital potential for education, and therefore it is very important to continue investing in education and continuous professional development of teaching staff so that they can provide the best possible education for children."

Naida Hota-Muminović, Minister of Education in Sarajevo Canton, stated that any investment in school infrastructure makes the school a more attractive place where students want to stay:

"In collaboration with UNICEF and the EU Delegation in BiH, we have implemented this project focusing on improvement of education opportunities in the post-pandemic era. We facilitated professional education for our professors and teachers, considering their needs, and distributed valuable laptops and assistive technologies to schools to facilitate inclusion. The project is aimed at countering the damage to education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Naida Hota-Muminović, adding that strengthening of the competencies of professionals contributes to a more stable school environment and creates prerequisites for quality programs for students.