Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 March 2014
76. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the policy in place for the use of tablets and PCs in schools; and if schools should be charging pupils over €700 for such items as is the case in Athy, County Kildare. [12560/14]
View answerSince 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 now 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. These will be addressed in the new Digital Strategy for Schools which is in the process of being developed. 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. The PDST Technology in Education provided in their 2013 summer course programme 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. Also, 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 Management.
