In an era where digital technologies permeate all spheres of life, “digital literacy” in schools is no longer considered an additional skill, but a core competence.
Digital literacy refers not only to the ability to use a computer, but also to the skills of searching for information, verifying the accuracy of data, knowing cybersecurity rules, ethical online behavior, analyzing media content, and acting safely in the digital environment.
Many countries have included this area in their curriculum as a separate subject, while others have integrated it into various lessons. In some states, digital literacy has already become a mandatory educational component.
AzEdu.az has investigated how digital literacy lessons are conducted in countries around the world.
One of the most prominent countries in digital education in Europe is Estonia. Despite having a small territory and population, Estonia has been building a digital state model for many years, and this policy has directly impacted its education system. Programming and digital skills are taught in schools from primary grades. Digital literacy lessons are an integral part of the curriculum, and students acquire systematic knowledge not only of technical skills but also of information security, data protection, and online behavior rules. The country's education strategy defines digital skills as a key requirement for the future labor market.
Scandinavian countries have also taken significant steps in this direction. In Finland, digital literacy is not a separate subject but an integrated part of the curriculum across all subjects. This approach aims for students to use technology as a tool, not an end in itself. Media literacy, analysis of information sources, and recognition of disinformation hold a special place in the school curriculum. The main goal of the Finnish model is to shape students not just as users, but as thinking and analytical digital citizens.
In Asia, Singapore has declared digital literacy a strategic priority at the state level. Within the framework of the “Digital Literacy Programme” in schools, students acquire digital skills progressively. Cybersecurity, ethical online behavior, and digital citizenship are integral parts of the curriculum. Singapore's education policy is directly linked to the development of the digital economy, and schools are considered one of the main pillars of this strategy.
Another European country where digital skills are implemented is Great Britain. Here, the subject of “Computing” is taught from the age of 5 and is an integral part of the national curriculum. Students are introduced to algorithmic thinking, programming fundamentals, and the operating principles of digital systems from an early age. This approach aims to foster a generation that creates technology, rather than merely consumes it.
South Korea is also among the countries that have made digital education a significant direction. Here, coding has been included in the school curriculum, and digital textbooks are widely used. In recent years, artificial intelligence-based educational programs have also been gradually implemented. The state strategy prioritizes equipping schoolchildren with skills relevant to future technologies.
In the United States of America, there is no unified digital literacy subject at the federal level. Approaches differ as the education system is regulated by states. Nevertheless, in many states, digital and media literacy are implemented as part of the curriculum. Cybersecurity and online safety topics, in particular, have begun to gain wider prominence in recent years.
International organizations also define digital literacy as one of the core skills. In framework documents prepared by OECD and UNESCO, digital skills are specifically emphasized among the essential knowledge and skills for the 21st century. Schools should not merely provide academic knowledge but also prepare students to make correct choices and behave safely in an environment of information abundance.
Experts believe that the inclusion of digital literacy lessons in the curriculum is not only a matter of technological development but also one of psychological and social security. In a situation where problems such as cyberbullying, disinformation, digital addiction, and data security are increasing, systematic teaching in this area by schools is now considered a necessity.
Thus, global experience shows that in developed countries, digital literacy is implemented either as a separate subject or as an integrated component throughout the entire curriculum.
