Primary Schools Computing 10/07/08
Statement by John Carr, General Secretary, Irish National Teachers’ Organisation on School Computing
10 July 2008Primary schools computing hit three times in the one day!
Primary school computing was dealt three body blows tonight according to the INTO.
Firstly, a report by the Department’s own inspectors painted a brutally frank picture of clapped out computers, poor teacher training and dismal broadband provision. “It is woefully short of solutions,” said INTO General Secretary John Carr.
Secondly, the Report of the Minister’s Strategy Group on how to spend the 252 million was published with no commitment to funding.
Thirdly, the Minister for Communications Energy and Natural Resources announced proper broadband connections for second level schools only.
The INTO said last night that the Strategy Group’s report clearly states that a lack of sufficient and sustained investment over recent years has resulted in insufficient and aging computer equipment in schools, no provision for technical or backup support and very inadequate levels of broadband internet.
It says that it we are to successfully meet the challenge of providing our school-going children with the skills and capabilities they require for the future, we need to invest now.
Responding to the launch of the report INTO John Carr said, “Critically, the Minister has published the report without any firm commitment to investing in schools computing. This is the equivalent of having a plan to build a house but no money to build it. Until it is backed by financial investment it will remain a pipe dream.”
Given that schools urgently require new equipment and technical support, the Strategy Group recommends that this need be met by frontloading investment in the first three years of the NDP period. “Half of that timeframe is history already!” said Carr.
He said schools need as a minimum appropriate computer equipment in all schools, teacher training, digital content relevant to the Irish curriculum and robust and adequate broadband internet in all schools.
The report clearly acknowledges that there has been some success but this has been tempered by a limited level of investment.
According to the report there are significant positives in relation to teachers’ attitudes. However, it goes on to say that confidence in the quality of schools’ technology and a consequent favourable disposition towards ICT usage among teachers has been dented due to lack of follow-on programmes and consistent funding. “This is a nice way of saying that teachers patience is wearing thin,” said Carr.
The INTO said last night that the inspectors report contained stinging criticisms of government for the failure to invest in school computing.
John Carr said the report clearly pointed to the need to fund modern computers in schools. Describing the report as a fairly brutal assessment of how bad things were in schools Carr said, “The report clearly says that more money must be made available for the regular upgrading and maintenance of computers. This effectively recognises that too many of the computers in use in our schools are obsolete. By implication, much of the investment to date has been wasted. ”
He said the INTO supported the view in the report that each classroom needs to the equipped with technology. "But," he warned "this would be no good without high quality teacher training." He also claimed that for the first time the inspectors had recognised the unfairness of relying on parents to fund school computers.
“But,” said Carr, “the inspectors’ recommendation that computers be placed in classrooms needs to be understood in the context of over crowded classes. Over 100,000 pupils are in classes of thirty or more, most of which lack the physical space to accommodate computers.”
In response to the announcement by Eamon Ryan, Minister for Communications Energy and Natural Resources of improved broadband connections for second level schools only, the INTO said the Minister was proposing to build castles in the air.
"Just as there is no point in building a house with out sound foundations there is no point in starting modern broadband investment at second level," said John Carr, General Secretary of the union.
"By the time the pupils transfer to second level they will have switched off computing in schools due to primitive broadband in primary schools. Most primary schools have only domestic broadband connectivity. Almost half of schools have satellite connectivity which works when the wind is blowing from a certain direction. Today’s proposal fails pupils in primary schools,” said Carr.
ENDS.