Interview with Lubica Sokolikova

	Are you interested in getting involved in an eTwinning project with a school in Slovakia? To learn about how eTwinning is working in Slovakia, we recently talked to Lubica Sokolikova, the European coordinator for eTwinning in Slovakia.

1. How does education in Slovakia differ from other countries in Europe?

I do not think that education in Slovakia differs much at the moment compared to many other countries. As funding plays a large role, some schools may be less materially equipped than schools in western European countries; however, our school education is known to be very strong in memory-supported learning. Students who have, for example, gone for a one-year stay in an American high school, found this quite helpful when adapting to a different education system and language.

The comparison between Slovakian and European teachers is less favourable for the Slovakian ones as our school curricula are very strict and give less flexibility in regards to their personal creativity. As I spent some years living in Norway and visited several primary schools there, I really admired the combination of obligatory curriculum and free inspiration from teachers. This change is thankfully coming about in Slovakia although it is a slow process due to forthcoming school laws.

2. How is ICT being implemented in Slovakia? 

The need to accelerate the implementation of ICT into school curriculum was emphasised by the Slovakian Government in a document entitled “Policy of Informatisation of Society in the Slovak Republic” which was adopted in Resolution No. 43 on 21 January 2004. The financing of regional schools’ information technology is done so through a project known as INFOVEK. 

The aim of the INFOVEK Project (in English, “InfoAge”) is to prepare the younger generation in Slovakia for life in the information society of the twenty-first century. The project follows the development of the nation’s competence in the knowledge economy and creates preconditions for its younger generation to be competitive in the development of the global labour market, especially in comparison to other younger generations in the European Union. 

Now in 2006, all schools in Slovakia (approximately 3 500) have computer laboratories and are connected to the Internet.

3. Now two years after its launch, how has eTwinning impacted Slovakia?

I think I can proudly say that the Slovakian NSS has done a very good job so far because eTwinning is widely known across the country! We have more than 500 schools registered and roughly 150 partnerships in place, with these numbers increasing every day. We are also very proud of the many wonderful projects that received awards at our National eTwinning Awards Ceremony 2006.

4. What kind of projects are Slovakian schools most often interested in?

I would say that most of the projects aim to gain knowledge about the lives of students in a partner country, to exchange information about culture, cities, environment, history, customs, school life, hobbies and future plans. Many projects combine these interests with foreign language learning.

5. Are there special eTwinning activities going on in Slovakia?

We just recently finished celebrating “eTwinning Weeks” in Slovakia with conferences, seminars, quizzes and questionnaires having gone on with the possibility of winning eTwinning advertising gifts. At the end of October we are organising a “Slovak-Hungarian Partner-Finding Seminar”. To learn more, visit our website at www.etwinning.sk.

6. Do you have any advice for teachers who wish to twin up with schools in Slovakia?

Just go ahead! Many partnerships have proved that our schools’ eTwinning experiences often turn into very nice friendships and human-twinning! Please visit the website of our 2006 winning school in the small village of Omšenie in central Slovakia: http://www.zsomsenie.sk/static/eTwinning/            
Above all, have fun and join eTwinning!

Are you interested in getting involved in an eTwinning project with a school in Slovakia?

Learn more about Slovakia by having a look at information on its national school structure and eTwinning projects.

• Educational system: EN (doc, pdf), SK (doc, pdf )
  Graphical overview: EN (pdf)
• General information (wikipedia)
• eTwinning projects
• National Support Service

	Veebitoimetaja:	Christina Crawley

	Avaldatud :	10/10/2006

	Viimati muudetud :	24/10/2006

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