Vol. 537 No. 2
430 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of first and second level schools which now have access to the Internet; if he will indicate progress on IT2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16013/01]
One of the aims of the Schools IT2000 project was that all schools would have access to the Internet. A survey carried out for the Department indicates that almost 100% of schools now have access to the Internet. This represents a substantial increase from the 1998 situation when only 20% had access.
In addition, following from Schools IT2000, the pupil-computer ratios are now 17.7:1 for primary and 13:1 for post-primary schools, up from 35:1 and 16:1, respectively, in 1998. Approximately 50,000 IT training places have been provided and 75% of all teachers have attended some ICT course since early 1998.Full-time ICT advisers have been appointed to each of the 20 full-time education centres around the country to provide training courses and advice and support to schools on ICT issues on a regional basis.
School integration projects – SIPS – funding has been provided for 80 SIPS, involving almost 10% of schools and 58 public and private sector partners. The outcome of these SIPS will allow for the development best practice models for dissemination throughout the education system. The evaluation of this important initiative is currently under way.
In first level schools, there has been a significant increase in the use of ICT in the curriculum. This is especially the case in English, other modern languages, learning support and mathematics. A number of public private partnership projects were entered into under Schools IT2000 which amounted in total value to almost £20 million. The ScoilNet website, a point of reference for ICT in education, is now positioned as the educational portal site and is under constant review in order to ensure that it remains relevant to a changing educational environment.
