[English] (no subject)

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

The Hon Julia Gillard MP
Minister for Education. 
05 March, 2008 

Media Release

National Secondary School Computer Fund: Round One

>From today Australian secondary schools most in need of new information
technology will be able to make an application to the $1 billion National
Secondary School Computer Fund.

The Rudd Government has undertaken an initial audit of Australia’s
secondary schools and found that 937 of them have a computer to student
ratio of 1:8 or worse. The ratio only counts computers that are four years
or younger. 

The audit identified 295,972 students in the 937 secondary schools as
benefiting from the first round offer. Seventy per cent of the students
attended State Government schools, 20 per cent attended Catholic schools
and 10 per cent attended Independent schools.

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations has
written to the 937 schools and invited them to apply for funding in the
first round to increase their computer to student ratio to 1:2.

The audit found that the average computer to student ratio in Australian
secondary schools for years 9 to 12 students is 1:5.

As promised the Rudd Government will deliver the first $100 million of
funding by June.

This is the first part of the Rudd Government’s plan to deliver a Digital
Education Revolution and bring our schools into the 21st Century, ensuring
all students in years 9 to 12 have access to up-to-date information and
communication technology in their classrooms.

Prior to the second round of offers the Australian Government will
undertake further discussions with the States and Territories about the
ongoing implementation of the program. This is part of a strategic
partnership with our State and Territory colleagues to deliver a world
class education system. 

Round one will deliver funding for schools to purchase technology such as
laptop computers, desktop computers and thin clients with virtual desktops
as well as data projectors, interactive whiteboards, digital cameras and
other technologies. In Round One priority will be given to the purchase of
desktop computers, laptops and thin clients. 

The audit was completed with State and Territory Education Departments,
the Associations of Independent Schools and the Catholic Education Offices.

Applications for Round One close on 4 April 2008. Applications for Round
Two will be open to all Australian secondary schools from July 2008. 

Further information about the National Secondary School Computer Fun can
be found at:www.digitaleducationrevolution.gov.au

Media Contact: media at deewr.gov.au 

--

Thanks, Paula
Stephen Loosley
Member, Victorian
Institute of Teaching