This paper sets out the results of a research project evaluating the results of the British Council 21st Century Schools Programme in the Western Balkans. The Programme was designed to upgrade the digital education in 4,000 primary schools throughout the Western Balkans. It provided teacher training in coding using Micro:bit, provided 100,000 Micro:bit devices to schools in the region, and engaged with policy makers and school leaders to reform the curriculum and endure the future sustainability of the Programme. The Programme was transformative in not only providing a boost to digital education in the region but also in transforming teaching by introducing or reinforcing the use of critical thinking and problem-solving techniques as a teaching method which had not been much used before. The evaluation was based on surveys in a sample of 64 schools throughout the region, backed up by documentary analysis and in-depth-interviews with policy makers, teacher-trainers, school leaders and focus groups with parents. Surveys (based on questionnaires) were carried out with school leaders, teachers and pupils. The evaluation analysed the effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of the Programme. It also caried out a difference in difference (DiD) analysis of the impact of the programme on the change in pupils coding skills as a result of the Programme. The DiD analysis showed a strong Impact of the programme at school level, but a variable impact across countries. The survey also revealed the importance of family background and school teaching practices on the effectiveness of digital education on pupils’ understanding of computer coding in practice.
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