Pressure on computer facilities in the classroom will be reduced as part of the ongoing IT 2000 programme in schools, according to an announcement made by the Minister for Education Micheal Martin. The plan to significantly reduce the ratio of computers to pupils comes as part of an £81 million spending commitment on the IT 2000 programme by the department over the next three years.
Micheal Martin says that each of the specific targets of the initial phase of IT 2000 had been met or exceeded, and that the new round of funding would allow the scheme to go well beyond the original objectives. Every school now has an Internet connection, the National Centre of Technology in Education (NCTE) has also been established, and over 40,000 teachers have completed computer training courses.
"The teachers have responded in a very hungry way to the training opportunities that have been offered," says Martin. He promised a comprehensive ongoing training programme to continue the foundations put in place. He also said that high-speed access to the Internet would be available in every classroom.
Some £40 million has already been provided for the scheme, with Eircom providing further support. The Minister says he now hopes to explore a new phase of commercial and community partnerships in education.
Also announced were details of the final round of spending under the existing programme amounting to £9.77 million. Secondary schools will receive additional money to purchase IT equipment for their careers guidance service. Schools with under 1,000 pupils will receive £1,500, while those with more than 1,000 will receive £3,000. The NCTE will receive £0.4 million to fund the purchase and distribution of Qualifax and Ectus guidance software.
A grant of £4 per pupil will be given to primary and second-level schools for the purchase of educational software, although schools may spend some of this money on hardware if it is more appropriate to local needs.
A further grant of £3 per pupil will be made available to purchase computer equipment. Remedial teachers and resource teachers working with children with disabilities will receive a grant of £700 to purchase computer equipment to assist their work. There will also be additional money available to support the already oversubscribed fund for the provision of computer equipment for special needs pupils.
