21st century Educational Tools

The Age, Misha Schubert and Nassim Khadem, 20 October 2007; The Australian, Justine Ferrari,
20 October 2007; The Daily Telegraph, Malcolm Farr and Sue Dunlevy, 20 October 2007; The
Sydney Morning Herald, Steve Burrell, 20 October 2007; The Age, John Roskam, 24 October 2007

 

Opposition Leader, Mr Kevin Rudd, has announced that parents will receive a tax rebate to purchase school equipment such as home computers, laptops, printers, internet connections, educational software and textbooks.

Expenses such as school fees and uniforms are not included in the rebate, nor will there be a subsidy for private school tuition, as Mr Rudd believes this could encourage school fees to rise.

Parent and teacher representatives across Australia have welcomed the move and are calling it ‘socially progressive’.
The Australian Council of State School Organisations executive director, Mr Terry Aulich said that the move ‘recognises that learning occurs both in the home and at school and that technology is the way to advance that.’

Mr Andrew Blair, president of the Australian Secondary Principals Association believes the initiative to be a positive one, and that it’s a ‘contribution to lifting educational outcomes for people in disadvantaged schools.’ Mr Ian Dalton, executive director of the Australian Parents Council, which represents non-government school parents, shared Mr Blair’s
enthusiasm, but admitted that he was ‘disappointed that school fees and uniforms were not covered by the rebate.’

Mr Rudd believes that computer literacy is the ‘bridge between’ children performing well at school and those ‘slipping behind’. Mr Rudd believes that ‘every Australian kid [should have] an opportunity to get themselves wired and computer literate, information revolution literate. We need to equip our young people with the skills necessary to participate in the digital economy of the 21st century.’

However, The Age has reported that Prime Minister John Howard believes that computer technology should not come at the expense of literacy and numeracy skills. He further believes that parents would prefer the government to focus on schools and students getting the basics right instead of investing in yet another initiative.

Families eligible for the Family Tax Benefit (Part A) will receive a 50 percent refund on educational expenses of up to
$750 for primary school students and $1500 for high school students.

 

 

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