Computers for all Australian students in 2012
Peter Garrett
posted Thursday, 16 February 2012
More than 911,000 computers have been installed in Australian schools, exceeding the national target of 786,000 and delivering on a key election promise to turn every secondary school into a digital school.
“In 2007, Labor promised that we would bring our schools into the digital age by providing enough computers for every senior high school student in the country, and we have delivered on that promise,” Mr Garrett said.
“It’s imperative that Australian students have access to world class computers and technology if we are to remain competitive in an increasingly digital world.
“This is more than just delivering computers. It is also about providing the extra digital resources teachers and students need to make the most of the technology, including a $41 million digital package to support the implementation of the Australian Curriculum.
“The computer rollout is transforming the way students learn, enabling them to work autonomously and develop the skills they need to go on to higher education, into a trade or enter the workforce.”
Mr Garrett said no other Government can match Labor’s commitment to providing Australian schools with world class digital resources, with the Leader of the Opposition confirming that he would slash the Digital Education Revolution by more than $600 million.
“If the Opposition had their way, thousands of kids would miss out on new technology and the computers they do have would never be replaced or upgraded,” Mr Garrett said.
“In contrast, the Australian Government believes every kid in every school should have the best possible education, which is why we have almost doubled funding to more than $65 billion.
“We’ve delivered the first national curriculum, given parents more information than ever before through My School, and invested money in the areas of greatest need through our Low SES and Literacy and Numeracy National Partnerships.”
Under the National Secondary School Computer Fund, state and territory governments and non-government school systems are responsible for purchasing and delivering the computers in their schools. For more information about the program and range of digital education initiatives visit www.deewr.gov.au
Tags: Communication, Computers, Education, Schools