The results of the first international survey on computer and information literacy, "The International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS)", conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement, were presented at the National Centre for the External Evaluation of Education (NSVVO) in Zagreb.
The survey, done in 2013, covered 60,000 students aged 14 from 3,300 schools in 20 countries, including Croatia.
The average score of Croatian students was 512, which on the scale of computer and information literacy is "statistically much better than the ICILS average score of 500," said PISA Centre head Michelle Bras Roth.
"The results show that we are relatively good... that is, that Croatia is above the average because the results of some other countries, like Turkey and Thailand, are bad," said Minister Mornar.
He added that the Croatian results could also be seen as excellent considering how little the country invested in equipment, education, teacher training and education in general.
The minister added that he agreed with those who believed that equipment was not crucial and that one should insist on more computer and information competencies.
Commenting on data from the survey showing that the number of computers used in schools was one per 26 students, he said that Turkey was the only country with a poorer result.
However, Turkey, where the number of computers in schools is one per 80 students, has launched a project to deal with that problem. As part of the FATIH project, schools will be given 620 SMART boards, 17 million tablet computers for students and one million for teachers. The project costs seven billion US dollars, "six annual budgets of the Croatian Science, Education and Sport Ministry, with teachers' salaries included," said Mornar.
He added that efforts would be made to obtain from EU funds some of the money for a similar project in Croatia.