Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
423. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that prior to the commencement of the 2013-2014 academic year parents were being asked to borrow sums of up to €800 to fund the purchase of iPads for student's use; his views on whether this promotes unnecessary debt for struggling families; where this arose from in policies made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38782/13]
View answerThe Programme for Government prioritises the integration of ICT in teaching and learning across the curriculum. Where ICT is embedded in the curriculum it can serve to engage and motivate children in the learning process. It has proven to increase students' self-esteem and creates a more positive disposition towards learning as well as providing teachers with more up to date, exciting and relevant ways of presenting and engaging with the curriculum. ICT can act as a catalyst for peer teaching and learning and is hugely powerful in the development of team-work, higher order thinking skills and a collaborative learning and teaching environment.
Since 1998, the national ICT in Schools programme has focused on building capacity across the schools system for integrating ICT into teaching and learning and developing pupils' digital literacy, The ICT in Schools programme must address new policy challenges and opportunities arising from major developments in curricular reform, digital publishing, digital content dissemination tools generally, cloud services, portable computing and student devices, and the deployment of high speed broadband at post-primary level. In relation to curricular reform the new junior cycle in post-primary schools outlines eight key skills required for successful learning by students across the curriculum and for learning beyond school. Among the key skills, one is literacy and numeracy, which includes digital literacy. Planning is underway for the development of a new ICT Plan.
The PDST Technology in Education provided in their summer course programme (2013) for teachers a course 'Active learning in literacy and numeracy using tablet devices'. This five day course was run in 28 different venues around the country with approximately 400 training places. In addition, 48 tutors were trained to deliver the course and it is intended that these tutors will be used during the school year and in summer 2014 to offer the same professional development opportunity to other teachers. In addition PDST Technology in Education have produced an advice sheets for schools and good practice videos specifically relating to the use of tablet devices. I am aware of the fact that parents are being asked to fund the introduction of tablet devices into the classrooms. In relation to the introduction of tablet devices in schools this is an operational matter for the Board of Management of each school and my Department has no role at individual school level in approving such initiatives. I believe it is important that where new technology, is being adopted by schools parents should be consulted prior to the decision being made and that the costs implications are fully considered by the Boards of Managements.
