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Pupils and teachers at five schools in Wairarapa will benefit from an expanded nationwide information and communications technology (ICT) programme, says Wairarapa MP Georgina Beyer.
The use of ICT in classrooms has been given another significant push with the addition of an extra 249 schools into the ICT cluster programme.
Before the end of this year, 40 clusters of schools will have joined the existing 43 clusters already on the national programme for professional development. The number of schools involved in the programme since it began now totals 1044, or about 40 percent of schools.
"This programme is benefiting five schools in Wairarapa as their teachers, through the ICT clusters, develop greater skills and confidence with the technology in the classroom. It's a major investment by the Government, worth $9.8 million nationally in the next financial year," Ms Beyer said.
"ICT is one of the keys to growing a more innovative economy. Ensuring our students are equipped with 21st century skills is a top priority for the Government in education, as it has become an important and very successful tool for students' learning.
"The schools involved in the existing clusters are improving teacher capabilities; they're already successfully using ICT to enhance learning and teaching," said Ms Beyer.
Each school cluster will have $120,000 available each year to support ICT professional development activities. The programme will:
- help teachers use ICT for teaching, learning and administration;
- meet important learning outcomes through activities that integrate ICT into teaching and learning;
- explore new ways to use ICT in educational activities - especially with the education website Te Kete Ipurangi for students, teachers and communities;
- establish new ways for the Ministry of Education to distribute information;
- use ICT for administration;
- develop methods for ICT technical support; and
- form policies and sustainable development plans for ICT.
The new schools involved in the ICT clusters in Wairarapa are Dannevirke High School, and Chanel, Kuranui, Makoura and Tararua Colleges, with a total of some 2314 students enrolled.
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