Ireland - Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027

The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 is adopted by the Department of Education and Skills of Government of Ireland in 2022. The Strategy aims to further support the school system to ensure that all learners have the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills they need to successfully navigate an ever evolving digital world.

The strategy has been developed following a wide ranging and extensive consultation process and sets out high level objectives under three key pillars.

Pillar 1 "Supporting the embedding of digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment" objectives:

• Empower learners to become confident and competent digital learners.
• All new educational policies and curricula will continue to ensure that they have the appropriate and effective use of digital technologies embedded.
• Enhance inclusion, equity, learner participation and personalisation through the use of digital technologies by providing clear guidance and support.
• Embed the appropriate and effective use of digital technologies for teaching, learning and assessment at each stage of the continuum of teacher education, i.e. Initial Teacher Education, Induction and Continuing Professional Development.
• Run an awareness programme to ensure that all teachers and school leaders are aware of supports and resources available relating to the use of digital technologies for teaching, learning and assessment both nationally and internationally.
• Ensure provision of flexible, differentiated, needs based teacher professional learning so that there is clear guidance, support and professional learning for all teachers and school leaders in the planning and use of digital technologies in all aspects of teaching, learning and assessment.
• Provide further supports to assist schools in their selfassessment of progress in embedding digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment.

Pillar 2 "Digital Technology Infrastructure" objectives:

• Establish sustainable funding mechanisms for the purchase and maintenance of digital technology infrastructure in schools.
• Meet the requirements for all primary, special schools and postprimary schools to embed digital technologies in their teaching, learning and assessment by the provision of appropriate broadband connectivity.
• Provide guidance and advice on the purposeful and effective use of digital technology infrastructure to support the embedding of digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment.
• Research, establish and make available technical support solutions that are appropriate to and accessible for all schools.
• Provide procurement mechanisms for schools, by working with relevant stakeholders, with comprehensive and easy to navigate guidance and support on procurement including how to access those mechanisms, which will assist schools in the purchase of equipment and services aligned to digital learning planning.

Pillar 2 "Looking to the future: policy, research and digital leadership" objectives:

• Ensure the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and its associated Implementation Plan supports and complements other relevant strategies and polices both nationally and at EU level.
• Provide assistance and guidance to schools to understand how relevant strategies related to the use of digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment can be implemented.
• Continue to engage with and monitor relevant international and EU initiatives including the EU DEAP so that research and supports can be considered and adopted for the Irish context and disseminated to the system.
• Promote participation and engagement in EU and national research.
• Undertake research in key areas to inform the development of relevant supports and resources for schools.
• Continue to support the development and dissemination of high quality resources to promote the safe, responsible and ethical use of the internet and digital technology, informed by national and international policy and best practice.
• Promote the use of digital technologies to facilitate communication within the wider school community and education ecosystem particularly involving parents and learners.

This Strategy aligns with and leverage policy developments contained in other strategies to progress implementation and in so doing, build and support the development of a range of digital competences.

An Implementation Plan with actions relating to the high level objectives and a timeframe for implementation has been developed. The development and execution of the Implementation Plan is led by an internal Digital Strategy Steering Group in cooperation with relevant education partners and other stakeholders.

The first Implementation Plan runs from 2022 to 2024. Towards the end of this phase a midterm review will be carried out to inform the next Implementation Plan from 2025 to 2027.