Vol. 509 No. 3
86 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Science the ratio of multimedia personal computers per primary pupil; the way in which this compares with other European countries; the number of man hours per teacher of in-service training in use of IT in the classroom at primary level; and the way in which this compares with other European countries. [20014/99]
The ratio of primary pupils per multimedia personal computer is currently estimated to be approximately 16:1. This is based on a recent sample taken by the National Centre for Technology in Education. This is a significant improvement on the figure of 35:1 which resulted from the survey of schools undertaken in early 1998 by Éircom in association with my Department. Many European countries have not established pupil or teacher/computer ratios but from the details available it is clear that the ratios range from 25 primary pupils per computer to about eight primary pupils per computer.
In the three year period from 1998 to the end of 2000, a total of 32,545 course places are being provided in the primary sector on ICT in education under Schools IT 2000. The majority of in-service courses are of 20 hours duration and some specialist courses are of ten hours duration. This provision of in-service for teachers on ICT in education is significantly higher than in any other European country and great credit is due to our teachers for their willingness and enthusiasm to undertake these courses.
