Ireland is "miles behind" other OECD states when it comes to the provision of information and communications technologies (ICT) in schools, according to the main school management bodies.
In a significant move yesterday, the management bodies for almost 500 Irish second-level schools said realistic Government investment was required "to pull Irish schools from the bottom of the league in the use of computers in classrooms".
Both the Joint Managerial Body (JMB) and the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS) said the €254 million commitment for ICT in schools in the new National Development Plan (NDP) falls far short of what is needed.
Ferdia Kelly, JMB general secretary, said: "We're miles behind. This investment may take Irish schools up to the start line but it will not even get us into the race. Every one of our schools needs at least €140 per student every year over the next seven years to embed ICT in teaching and learning."
ACCS general secretary Ciarán Flynn said the NDP commitment provides just €46 for each primary and second-level student every year. "It is no good, it won't do the job," he said.
Both bodies detailed the latest research which indicates that:
• 20 per cent of school computers are more than six years old;
• 89 per cent of schools are without technical support and maintenance;
• the Republic lies 20th in a list of 30 OECD countries on provision of computers for schools and a service contract with an IT contractor is available in only 24 per cent of schools.
Mr Flynn said the average school had only one computer for every nine students. "They break down and there is no provision for technical support, so the principal has to take the expert ICT teacher out of class to get them up and running. It's a disaster." The OECD average is one computer for five students.
The school bodies said ICT must be "part and parcel of teaching and learning", not simply an add-on. A phased, planned approach with consistent roll-out was needed.
The JMB and ACCS want the Government to address what they call the "critical underfunding" of ICT in schools and the "complete lack of realistic long-term ICT planning".
They want an annual commitment of €50 million for ICT in schools over the next seven years, €100 million more than earmarked in the NDP. They are also proposing a 10-year Department of Education strategic plan.
Hannah Greene of ICT Ireland, the Ibec group that represents the high-tech sector, has been critical of the low level of ICT in schools. She said students were being at a significant disadvantage due to the failure to exploit technology.