THE FUTURE of the Government’s €252 million plan for computers in schools is in doubt after the Department of Education yesterday imposed severe cutbacks in IT training and support for teachers and schools.
In all, some 18 teachers seconded to work on IT support services for schools have been ordered to return to their schools from September.
The heads of the various education centres were instructed to release the staff in a memo sent from the National Centre for Technology in Education at 5pm yesterday.
The move is a severe blow to the NCTE, based at DCU, which has been praised for its efforts to build up computer expertise in schools.
The 18 teachers who are being ordered to return to their schools are key figures in building computer networks in schools. They also play a key role in providing training courses and information technology support services for schools.
John Carr, the INTO general secretary, said last night that the department’s move represents a devastating blow to schools and teachers, and undermines the Government’s entire strategy for computer education in schools.
The seconded teachers were also seen as key figures in driving the proposed €252 million investment in IT in schools, planned under the National Development Plan.
In recent weeks, the Minister for Education, Batt O’Keeffe, has been slow to confirm this spending programme will proceed.
The Republic has one of the most underdeveloped school computer programmes in the EU.
