Abstract:

The e-Schools programme “e-Schools: a comprehensive informatization of school operation processes and teaching processes aimed at the creation of digitally mature schools for the 21st century” consists of two projects aimed at introducing ICT into the school system in the 2015-2022 period. The e-Schools pilot project was implemented in the 2015-2018 period. During the pilot project period digital competence framework for the principals, for the teachers and expert associates and for the administrative staff was created, as well as coresponding curricula for their education.

Experiences from the pilot project have shown that principals play a key role and that should be the most important motivators and drivers of the digital transformation of each school.

For that reason in the major project which will be implemented in the 2019-2022 period, one of the project results will be a revision of the digital competence framework for school principals. The initial digital competence framework for school principals consists of four digital competences in the area of school planning and management: Planning the digital technology usage within the school, Managing the development of digital competencies of school employees and students, Managing the integration of digital technologies in learning and business processes and Managing digital infrastructure.

Revision of the digital framework for school principals will be based on the aligning with the Framework for the Digital Maturity of Schools defining the areas and levels of the digital maturity of schools, coordinated with the DigCompOrg European framework. Other documents to be considered encompass the proposal of the Occupational standard of the profession of school principal, as well as other related occupational standards defining competencies and key tasks of school leaders.

The Digital competence framework for the principals is built upon the competency descriptors used in DigComp, DigCompEdu and DigCompOrg. This paper presents the methodology for the framework revision and the structure of the elements describing digital competences, as well as a detailed example of one particular digital competence description according to this structure.

As the school principals are the leaders of digital competence development, enhancement and promotion, the presented revision of the digital competence framework for the school principals, and consequently, enhancement of their digital competencies, will influence on Croatian school digital maturity in whole.

Keywords:

School principlas, digital competence framework, e-Schools project.