Labor’s $1 billion school computer election promise could turn into a $2 billion plan, with the government talking to states and territories about meeting extra costs.
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard today insisted the plan, announced at Labor’s campaign launch and the centrepiece of its education revolution, remains on track.
Ms Gillard said Labor had always said it would be a partnership between the commonwealth and state and territory governments.
“We are working with our state and territory colleagues and the discussion we are having with them is about us putting an extra $1 billion into the vital task of getting computers in school, and in the delivery of that $1 billion, working with the states and territories on related questions like electricity supply, like, of course, professional development for teachers, like making sure that curriculum is there that embeds the computer technology into learning,” she told Network Ten.
“That partnership will make sure that computers are in schools in circumstances where they can be used.”
Launching the plan during the election campaign, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said a Labor government would ensure that every student in years 9-12 had access to their own computer at school at a cost of $1 billion over four years.
That would cover the cost of computers and high-speed internet, he said.
The opposition now says the government could have to buy up to 700,000 computers to keep its promise, with schools and possibly parents likely to face substantial extra costs for software, teacher training, networking, technical support and security.
In a report a Sydney newspaper, an unnamed school principal said the Labor election promise appeared to mean the federal government would provide the hardware alone, leaving states with substantial additional costs.
Ms Gillard said the policy was working, with applications closing on Friday night for the first $100 million for schools with the greatest need – those with a ratio of one computer per eight students or less.
Funding applications received in this category covered 90 per cent of schools, she said.
“This is a program that is being met with enthusiasm in schools because they want their children, their kids, their students to have the ability to learn in the modern environment, and that requires access to computer technology,” she said.
Ms Gillard said the states and territories were working with the federal government on delivering that first $100 million by June 30.
She said the government was also working with the state and territory governments on spending the balance of $800 million on computers and $100 million on fibre-optic internet cables to the schools.
“We are working on the ongoing strategic partnership so the computers can be in schools, being used, because we are working together with our state and territory colleagues, and that process is going well,” she said.
AAP
Source: The Age
