“Only one out of ten teacher candidates is satisfied with the knowledge they get about how ICT can be used in their future career. Our programme will improve these figures radically,” says Christina Ehneström, head of programmes for ICT and school development at the Knowledge Foundation.

The focus of the programme is on the learning and professional skills of teacher education students. In order to meet pupils’ needs and contribute to school development, tomorrow’s teachers need digital literacy. Studies conducted by the Knowledge Foundation show that teacher education has obvious shortcomings and that students today use ICT far too infrequently in their studies.

“We want to stimulate close collaboration between the municipal ‘partner schools’ and teacher education programmes. When students are out in the schools doing their student teaching, they should use ICT both with their pupils and in their contacts with their teacher education programme,” says Yngve Wallin, who is in charge of the programme.

The aim of the programme is to develop the digital literacy of teacher education students so that they know how to use ICT in their future career to enhance the learning of pupils. This can only be achieved if ICT becomes a natural part of both the theoretical and practical segments of teacher education. An enhanced partnership between municipalities and the business community, together with a stronger link to research, are important secondary objectives in this programme.

The Knowledge Foundation has allocated SEK 100 million to support ICT in teacher training over the coming ten-year period. The programme will be financed with matching funds at least equal to the amount granted by the Knowledge Foundation for the programme. This means that the total investment will be at least SEK 200 million.

In 2005’s announcement for applications, two to three projects will be chosen and about SEK 30 million will be dispersed. The application period for this year’s announcement runs from today (7 March, 2005) to 2 May (2 May, 2005). To find out more, go to www.kks.se

For further information, please contact:
Christina Ehneström, head of programmes, +46 8-56 64 81 00 (switchboard), +46 733-47 81 20 (mobile).
Yngve Wallin, programme manager, +46 8-56 64 81 00 (switchboard), +46 733-47 81 50 (mobile).