Secure Budget for Computerization of B&H Education System

28 November 2006

Between November 22 and December 15, 2006, the Youth Information Agency and the Creative Development Foundation will organize a campaign to collect letters of support for the initiative to establish a special fund for introduction of information science technology in B&H education system.

They invite all nongovernmental and youth organizations, student associations and councils to take part in the campaign and sign support letters that will be provided by the organizers. After the end of the campaign, the letters will be submitted to the representatives of legislative and executive branches of power at all levels, in order to take urgent measures to secure budget line for faster development of information society in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not a good information society service, for it doesn�t offer sufficient opportunities to educate the youth in the area of information technologies and use of ICTs in education. The key problem lies in the fact that the state, entity and cantonal budgets offer little (if any) funds for development of information technology and use of ICT in scientific and research work.

There is no system to subsidize use of broadband internet in the process of preparation and implementation of curricula and syllabuses. On the other hand, the adequate use of ICTs can become a shortcut towards development for countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina. Just look at Ireland as a country that has turned into one of the richest countries in the work through careful investment in ICT capacities.

In B&H, the legislation to establish national Agency for Information Science and Technology is fully paralyzed. The national documents, policies, strategies and action plans (adopted in 2003 by the Council of Ministers) is dead-letter.

The action is implemented with support by CIDA and CRS, under the auspices of the wider project �Youth Network for Cooperation with the Authorities�.