Read EAEA’s Position Paper on the Digital Education Action Plan (DEAP) (pdf)
EAEA views the Digital Education Action Plan as a crucial tool for advancing digitalisation in education. The structured consultations and involvement of diverse stakeholders have been one of the strong points of the DEAP in promoting a more comprehensive and inclusive digital education ecosystem.
However, there is still a critical need to strengthen the focus on non-formal learning within the DEAP. The emphasis of the strategy tends to remain on formal education, with non-formal learning often appearing as an add-on rather than as an integral part of the strategy.
EAEA stresses the need for the following improvements:
- Prioritise non-formal education: Enhance the focus on non-formal learning, which plays a pivotal role in reaching people in contexts of systemic exclusion, offering flexible learning opportunities that are often unavailable in formal settings.
- Address digital skills gap: Invest in digital infrastructure and skills training for educators, particularly within non-formal education.
- Evaluate impact: critically evaluate the true impact of digital interventions on learners’ lives.
- Concerns with private partnerships: Emphasise that partnerships with private entities should prioritise educational needs over profit, especially for vulnerable groups.
- Address foundational skills: Highlight the importance of tackling both digital and non-digital skills gaps to prevent widening inequalities.
Only through this nuanced approach can digital education foster inclusive and sustainable learning environments for all.