Computer boost for all schools
Monday, 16 November 2009 22:14
Every classroom in the country will get a teaching laptop and a digital projector within the next three years as part of a €150m initiative.
Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe said the first step would see €22m in grants given to primary schools before the end of the year.
Funding for post-primary schools will be made available early in the New Year he said.
Fine Gael Education Spokesman Brian Hayes has expressed concerns that money to fund the project may be coming from capital funding intended for school buildings, which the Department of Education has not yet spent.
The grants were welcomed by Irish Primary Principals Network, but the group insisted that more investment is needed.
In a statement, the IPPN said the €22m 'will do little to bridge the technology gap that has developed in recent years between Irish schools and our OECD neighbours.'
The group said that Ireland ranks 19th in the OECD league in relation to the use of computers in classrooms.
- Nine News: Emma O Kelly, Education & Science Correspondent, reports that Ireland lags behind other OECD in terms of information and communication technologies
- One News: Emma O Kelly, Education & Science Correspondent, reports that every classroom will get a teaching laptop and a digital projector within the next three years
- Morning Ireland: Evelyn McClafferty reports that the investment is reported to be worth millions but there are questions about where the money will come from
