GovTech Poland

Minister of Education and Science Przemyslaw Czarnek, called September 12 as the National Digital Competence Day in schools and mobilized students and teachers to check their level of digital skills. This is the second time the IT Fitness Test has been conducted in Poland, which helped identify areas for digital development. 

“I am proud to announce that September 12, starting today, will be Digital Competence Day in Schools every year. What does this mean? It means further investment in Schools, but it also means great cooperation with companies such as Microsoft and Digital Poland"

- said the Head of the Ministry of Education at the conference. 

Digital competencies include the critical and responsible use of digital technologies and their use for learning, work and social participation. 

Digital competencies are a set of skills related to proficient use of technology and modern electronic devices. This includes working with software, knowing how to effectively use the Internet and manage data, solving everyday technological problems, and having a basic understanding of how to use a computer or other electronic devices. Digital competencies are one of the key elements in the development of education, professional life and daily functioning in a fast-changing world. They help in effective communication, problem solving and personal development”

- said Antoni Rytel, Plenipotentiary of the Minister of Education and Science for Digital Transformation.

In the survey, every student and teacher can test their knowledge of the Internet, software, applications that facilitate computer work, social media and above all, cyber security. These are competencies that will be particularly useful in the future. 

In the economy we're currently living in, digital competence is already a staple. That's why it's important to educate young citizens in a way that they are adapted to this modern world and are attractive to employers in the labor market. What's more, if we constantly take care to raise digital competencies, we will make it possible to create new digital products and services over the central area of Poland, which will feed our economy and help with creating new jobs.  

Today, as never before, we need educated specialists equipped with the right digital skills to power the innovative companies emerging in our country. Without them, it will be practically impossible to develop the economy. That's why we must emphasize the importance and role of digital competencies at every turn”

- emphasized Michał Kanownik, President of Digital Poland.

The test is available online at: https://itfitness.eu/pl/. The results of the current edition of the digital test will be announced in November. Students and teachers who achieve the highest results will be rewarded with electronic equipment, funded by project partners such as Acer, Google For Education and Lenovo. The project is being implemented simultaneously in four countries, including Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The initiative is supported by the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Digitization, the Ministry of Development and Technology and the GovTech Center.

Minecraft Education for all primary and secondary schools - a teaching tool that is changing education 

On the occasion of the National Day of Digital Competence in Schools, students in all primary and secondary schools in Poland will receive free access to a virtual educational platform - Minecraft Education, which will allow them to develop the competencies of the future during lessons.

Minecraft Education hides the potential to change the way of learning in acquiring competencies necessary for students in their future workplace. It guarantees new digital opportunities and features that support the competencies of the future. It is a creative virtual platform that provides excellent support for teachers. It assists students in developing so-called: 21st century skills, such as creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, problem solving and digital literacy. 

Today we announce something that will really please students in Polish schools. Here is a well-known game - Minecraft in its educational version - from today, it will be free for all schools from the fourth grade upwards

- added the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The use of Minecraft Education in subject classes brings many educational benefits. The virtual world of the educational game includes specially prepared maps dedicated to various subjects, where students can construct virtual environments related to the subject. Minecraft Education maps can be ready to use or created by the students themselves, which adds an element of fun and creativity to the learning process. From basic building to coding with blocks, Java scripting and Python, Minecraft Education grows with students and can be used in the teaching and learning process at any grade level.

From the beginning, we have ensured that the process of integrating new technologies into schools is done in cooperation with the public and the market. Today we can see the results of this - students and teachers geting free access to tools that combine learning with fun. It is thanks to modern educational tools (including games), that the learning process becomes more interactive, engaging and above all - more interesting”

- emphasized the Plenipotentiary of the Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The game prepares students for life in a world full of new technologies by building the competencies of the future. Importantly, the game takes place in a safe environment, as its rules are set by teachers. The classic version of Minecraft differs from the educational one. The classic one has no restrictions in the game. While the educational version emphasizes on learning. . Teachers who want to start working with Minecraft Education can count on the support of a huge database of tutorials, guides and other materials that allow anyone to create their own lesson from scratch, regardless of their level of knowledge of the game and its environment. 

The world of Minecraft Education is limitless, reaching wherever our imagination takes us. We can fly into space, create a wind farm or replicate our own school in a land made of multipurpose blocks. It's an immersive adventure for students, making learning the competencies of the future accessible and attractive to everyone. They are always accompanied on this digital journey by a teacher who teaches them to navigate the digital highways without violating  their privacy and data”

 - Dominika Bettman, General Director of Microsoft in Poland

By immersing students in a world where they feel like experts, you awake their motivation to learn, engage their emotions, make them feel curious and intrigued. You foster integration and build cooperative competence and problem-solving skills. It's worth giving it a try now, as access to the free trial version of Minecraft Education (trial license - limited in time, giving access to full functionality) will be active until May 6, 2024. To access the game, log in to your ZPE account at https://zpe.gov.pl/, using login credentials received from the school.

Access to Minecraft Education has been made available free of charge in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science.

For additional information and materials on #MinecraftEducation, visit:  edukacja.gov.pl/buduj-z-minecraft