Computer Rollout to Commence in June

Media Release, The Honourable Julia Gillard, 5 March 6, 2008; The Advertiser, Liam Walsh, 6
March 2008; The Australian, Sid Marris, 6 March 2008; The Canberra Times, Danielle Cronin, 6
March 2008; The Courier Mail, Craig Johnstone and Michael Madigan, 6 March 2008; The Daily
Telegraph, Sue Deunlevy, 6 March 2008

A national audit undertaken by the federal government of computers in schools has found that 937 secondary
schools across Australia have a ratio of one computer to every eight or more students in Years 9 to 12.

Of the 937 schools eligible for first-round funding, 70 per cent are government schools, 20 per cent are Catholic
schools, and 10 per cent are independent schools. These schools will shortly receive an application to apply for
first-round funding

The Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Ms Julia Gillard, announced that the chosen
schools, whose names will not be released, will ‘be able to make applications to get funding to increase the level
of computers in their schools to a ratio of one to two’.

An additional survey also found that many schools are not equipped to handle extra computers without additional
support in infrastructure and professional development for teachers. Schools cannot put funding received through
the National Secondary Schools Computer Fund toward associated costs such as infrastructure, teacher training, maintenance or insurance. Ms Gillard announced that the Rudd Government is working with state and territory governments ‘to make sure computers are in settings in which they can be used’.

The 937 schools will receive a share of $100 million, which will be divided among the schools in June of this year.

 

 

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