|
Government recognition of the key importance to educational success of information & communication technology (ICT) has seen almost $950,000 provided for ICT programmes in Wairarapa electorate schools.
Wairarapa MP Georgina Beyer said ICT is an incredible tool for learning and ICT skills are essential for work and for life in the modern world.
"This government is developing IT and infrastructure - so students and teachers can take advantage of the vast opportunities that exist online," Georgina Beyer said.
ICT initiatives, costing an estimated total of $949,300 over three years, are now in place in Wairarapa - including a project to supply laptops to all of New Zealand's 2700-plus principals, already completed ahead of schedule.
"Students and teachers need well-informed, and effective leadership, and that's why we've equipped all 77 principals in Wairarapa with the benefits of mobile computing," Ms Beyer said.
Also, the laptops for secondary teachers programme has already supplied eight Wairarapa teachers. Budget 2003 extended it to include teachers in years 7-8, who can now also lease a laptop through their school, with the government meeting two-thirds of the cost.
The expansion of the ICT professional development cluster programme was another feature of Budget 2003. There will be 40 new clusters and up to 400 new schools involved in the programme in 2004, adding to the 94 clusters and 800 schools involved nationwide since 1999. In Wairarapa this programme is lead by Masterton Intermediate.
Project Probe, an initiative worth tens of millions of dollars, will see the rollout of broadband Internet to 14 regions around the country by the end of 2004, including Wairarapa.
"The rollout of high speed Internet will benefit thousands of students in hundreds of schools in remote country areas - and it'll open up further opportunities in Wairarapa that urban students already have.
"Students will be able to access a much wider range of subject choices, to take part in video conferencing, and to quickly access education resources on the Internet. For teachers, it means access to digital teaching resources and online professional development," Georgina Beyer said.
|
|
|
