The Digital Competence of Students Preparing to become Primary School Teachers - Perspectives for Development

The analysis of the European Digital Competence Framework for Citizens, outlined the need to study: the digital competence of students - future primary teachers; their attitudes towards the study of required, elective and optional subjects developing digital competence. If students preparing to become primary teachers are offered sufficient and varied required, elective and optional subjects to develop these competences, they will be able to successfully apply digital competences in their future teaching practice. In May 2023, a survey was conducted with 200 students preparing to become primary teachers at the Pedagogical Faculty of Plovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski", which would establish their attitudes on the issues raised. The results of this study showed: the students' high assessment of the usefulness of the studied compulsory disciplines for the development of digital competences, as well as an increased interest in the offered elective and optional disciplines with the same focus; the importance of primary teacher candidates having a good level of digital competences. The obtained results support the process of updating the current curricula in the disciplines developing digital competences and developing new training courses adapted to the needs of students for an even more complete development of their digital competences.