Education platform Edurio has conducted a survey on the availability of technology for learning process for pupils in Latvia; the study found only a third of pupils had sufficient technological equipment, head of Edurio Gatis Narvaišs said August 20.

In the near future, every pupil in Latvia should be provided with technology to learn in the digital environment. It has been found that only a third of pupils can fully work remotely. Most pupils with their technical access can receive and send a task. The crisis has provided experience, but it is necessary to prioritize these issues in the long term.

A computer and an Internet connection are needed for every pupil to successfully learn and work both at school and remotely.

The head of the Edurio schools in Latvia, Gatis Narvaišs, said that the surveys carried out concluded that the technical situation of families can be divided into two groups regarding remote learning: minimum and optimal provision. The minimum set is one smart device with an Internet connection within the family. With it, you can receive and send information, watch video, but it’s hard to participate in online classes, use platforms, write larger texts.

The optimal provision for the learning process is a computer, Internet, microphone, headphones, speakers, web camera for each pupil.

The Edurio study found that 37% of ninth-graders had optimal provision during remote learning, 30% have a computer and the Internet, but there is a lack of other technical equipment, 30% of pupils do not have a computer. The survey also referred to the fact that sometimes teaching materials cannot be printed at home.

Ogre Secondary School No.1 director Igors Grigorjevs said that the quality of learning remotely depends on the age of the child and the way in which the learning process is organised: a big problem is that not always a family with multiple children can ensure a normal learning process.

“If remote learning is the norm, one set for each child is required,” said Grigorjevs.

Aivars Gribusts, director of product development of textbook publisher Lielvārds, says that external burdens are having an impact on the learning outcome. “The crisis situation provided experience, but this is high time to prioritize these issues in the long term. We can figure out a plan to provide each pupil with a digital device in Latvia,” said Gribusts.

One question is the purchase of technology, the other is how well the equipment is used. Gatis Narvaišs said that the same amount invested in technology needs to be invested in educating people working with technology.

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