THE KEY COMPETENCIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES OF THE SECONDARY SCHOOL GRADUATES

The rapid development of the information and communication technologies (ICT) affects all sectors of human activity. Today only few people can imagine life without using them. Information and communication technologies have an impact on education in two main areas. ICT facilitates access to education and increases the efficiency of the teaching process, if exploited properly. Information and communication technologies have also become one of the most desired field of study and one of the highest paid industries which still lacks a large number of experts.

With the introduction of information and communication technologies into schools, educational experts faced the fundamental question - how to integrate ICT in education. Instead of integrating ICT into curriculum of various subjects, experts created a separate subject that is devoted to these technologies. A different situation arose in 2004 when the National Programme for the Development of Education (National Curriculum) was formed. The perception of the role of ICT in education has changed. New educational programs have brought more competencies to schools, so they can determine the direction of realized education. In the Framework Education Program or School Program, the information and communication technologies have become one of the key areas of education, including the definition of key competencies representing a set of knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes and values important for personal development and success in the society.

This paper deals with the research of the key competencies of the information and communication technologies of secondary school graduates and the requirements of the Framework Education Program.