For useful and safe digital technologies in schools

UNICEF in Serbia is continuing cooperation with Yettel on strengthening the digital competencies of students, teachers, and parents.

Belgrade, March 28, 2024 – UNICEF in Serbia and Yettel are continuing long-time cooperation to further strengthen schools' connectivity to the Internet and improve the digital literacy of students, teachers, and parents.

Relying on the results and resources developed in the previous period, UNICEF and Yettel will endeavor, through the new partnership, to improve the digital skills of children, strengthen parents’ knowledge on how to protect their children from risks, and promote the safe use of the Internet through the education system.

“Equal access to digital technologies and digital competencies represents an important investment that benefits students and the development of the entire society. Schools with Internet access represent centers for wider learning and improvement of the digital literacy of communities. Cooperation with company Yettel is significant for qualitative changes we wish to achieve to ensure access to good-quality education and create opportunities for every child,” said Deyana Kostadinova, Director of UNICEF in Serbia.

Through continued partnership between UNICEF and Yettel, it is envisaged that 4,500 children in 30 schools all over Serbia will improve their digital literacy knowledge. Developed and tested trainings and materials will be included in the educational system and used to further develop the digital skills of 60,000 students, parents, and teachers.

This project relies on the long-term cooperation of UNICEF and Yettel, through programs “Bridging Digital Divide” and “Safe Net for the Whole Family”. Founded learning clubs, digital technology libraries, teachers’ trainings, educational material for the safe use of the Internet, are some of the results of these projects. To overcome the digital divide, Yettel has extended the free use of the Internet for 2200 SIM cards during the next two years for 30 schools in Serbia.

“Inclusive education in which all children, irrespective of the circumstances, have the same conditions for learning and developing, is a precondition for a better future. We believe that reliable and accessible connectivity is the right way for each child to get an equal chance to develop skills necessary for the time to come. Cooperation with organizations that share our values is important to us, which is why we are continuing the year-long partnership with UNICEF. I am convinced that together we will significantly contribute to further developing the digital skills of children, teachers, and parents," said Goran Vasić, CCAO in Yettel.

UNICEF will continue to support the use of educational digital technologies to improve learning opportunities for all students, strengthen teachers’ expertise, and further strengthen and modernize inclusive education.