TIRANA, August 27/ATA/ There is another innovation in education in the coming new school year. For the first time, the fourth grade students will learn the basics of artificial intelligence, with the new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) curriculum, as investments continue to expand the network of smart laboratories in schools.

Minister of Education and Sports Ogerta Manastirliu was today at the “Isa Boletini” school in Paskuqan, where there is going on the distribution of free textbooks, a convenience for families on the threshold of the new school year.

Minister Manastirliu stated that in total there are about 236 thousand students who are supported each year through the “Free Textbooks” program.

“We are working to distribute the free textbooks for all levels of basic education, but also for the high schools, where there are about 12,500 high school students who benefit from the government program. In total, there are about 236 thousand students who are supported through the “Free Textbooks” program each year”, she said.

The minister emphasized that by 2026, more than 600 schools will also have the smart laboratories, with the purpose of developing children's digital skills. "Three years ago, we launched an ICT program from the first grade, but with technological developments, we have been able to track in real time the achievements of students learning coding during the past year and continuing into this year. We have taught about 35 thousand children how to code, but on the other hand, we have also approved the new curriculum for the fourth grade, which for the first time will bring the basics of knowledge about artificial intelligence," said Manastirliu. /j.p/p.s./