Beyond a PC count

The IT2000 framework document was published in November 1997 and the National Centre for Technology in Education was established early in 1998. A total of £40 million was allocated over a three-year period.

Training courses were devised with phase 1 teaching basic skills and phase 2 concentrating more on applications. Both courses are 20 hours. "The take-up has been phenomenal, with teachers taking these courses on their own time," NCTE director Jerome Morrissey says. In all, more than 40,000 teachers have participated in training to date.

There are some 60,000 computers in Irish schools and every school has an Internet connection. A network of IT advisers based in the educational centres around the State has been established. These will provide an advice service on teaching and learning rather than technical issues. ScoilNet, the schools website, was launched recently.

Morrissey says the capital budget has now been spent and the current budget runs out soon. The final £9.77 million of current spending will be used for a variety of projects, including the provision of guidance counsellors with PCs and software. Primary and second-level schools will get software grants at the rate of £4 per pupil, while £1.2 million has been set aside to support the work of remedial and resource teachers. There are also grants to meet the needs of special-needs pupils and for staff development in primary and second-level schools. A further grant is being made for school administration at second level and the School Integration Project will be continued. A qualitative and quantitative assessment will be carried out in May and June 2000, Morrissey says.

A further £81 million is to be invested over the next three years. This funding should ensure that every classroom will be connected to the Internet with high-speed access; the ratio of computer to pupils will be significantly reduced; ongoing training will be available to teachers; and Ireland will "use the technology to implement the most advanced curriculum support programme in the world", if the Department's goals are realised.

The three teacher unions have a wish list for ICT to realise its full potential. The TUI wants technical advisers appointed to schools at a grade similar to lab assistant, says education officer Billy Fitzpatrick.

The ASTI is anxious that ICTs should be used across the curriculum for communication. Deputy general secretary John White says there should be a module on ICT literacy for junior-cycle pupils; the issue of computer science as a Leaving Cert subject should be addressed, he adds.

At primary level, Catherine Byrne of the INTO says the announcement of £1 million is very welcome, but more detail is required. For instance, every classroom will be connected to the Net, but who will pay the cost? "I don't see any clear evidence of significant investment in special education or disadvantage," she adds.

Byrne is also concerned at the dearth of Irish software available. She echoes the TUI's call for technical support, pointing out that the IT advisers are concerned with pedagogy only.

The allocation of £1.2 million under the current programme for administrative systems at second level only is badly timed, Byrne says, as primary principals take to the streets complaining of their dual role as administrators and teachers. No back-up was allocated to these teachers, she adds. She says preservice training should include ICTs.

Byrne calls for an impact assessment, looking at the effects of the £40 million investment on pedagogy, not just a computer-counting exercise.