$44 million for teacher laptops and extra primary school computers

1 February 2009

NSW Premier Nathan Rees today announced that all 25,000 NSW public high school teachers would receive a wireless laptop as part of a new $44 million investment in computer technology in schools.

“NSW public schools lead the nation in providing computer resources, giving our teachers and our young people the vital skills they need to help them succeed in our IT savvy world.”

Mr Rees said the roll-out to teachers comes as part of the revolutionary mini lap-top program for the state’s 197,000 senior high school students.

“This means students and teachers will be using the same laptop, giving teachers the tools to electronically plan and deliver lessons and work with the students in the classroom using the same technology.

“Having a laptop and not being able to use it is pointless, so we are using $28 million of Rudd Government funding to provide teachers with the professional development they need to use the new technology.

“The roll-out will begin this year and in 2012 all high school teachers will have a laptop.

"There has been a fantastic response to the call for tenders for the lap-top program which closed in mid January.

“Department of Education IT experts are now assessing the proposals and expecting to award a contract this month.”

Mr Rees said the NSW Government will spend more than $1.2 billion on IT in schools over the next four years.

“This is part of making NSW public schools one of the largest and fastest school IT networks in the world with:

• One million school and TAFE student email accounts
• Every public schools connected to the internet
• A program to buy 100,000 classroom computers plus a new additional 20,000 for primary schools over four years
• 600 Connected Classrooms to date – a program which will provide every government school with an interactive whiteboard, videoconferencing facilities and online learning tools
• A $36 million investment each year in teacher training, including IT training
• And the massive mini lap top roll-out.

Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth said as part of the $44 million package, primary schools will receive 20,000 more computers over four years providing students and teachers with access to the most up-to-date technology.

“We have already committed to purchase 100,000 computers for NSW public schools over four years, and we are going to increase the number to primary schools by 20,000,” she said.

“This is about giving our primary schools greater access to technology in the early school years.

“A key priority of the NSW Government is to provide quality teaching and learning facilities to keep pace with technology and provide our students with the world’s best education.

“These investments coupled with the standard of teaching and curriculum choice is why more and more parents are choosing public education for their children,” she added.