Vol. 577 No. 3
67 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans to encourage the use of e-learning in the classroom; if, once the ICT programme comes to an end, there will be an extension or a similar programme put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30977/03]
Since the schools ICT programme was initiated in 1998, my Department has provided some €140 million towards the promotion of e-learning in first and second level schools, including grants to schools for computer equipment, ICT training programmes for teachers and a range of advisory and support services. The general objectives of the programme are to provide students with access to ICT enabled learning, promote and develop a strong ICT skills base and enhance the quality of teaching and learning through ICT. Recent surveys conducted by the National Centre for Technology in Education, NCTE, on behalf of my Department indicate that substantial progress has been made to date on a number of key issues. There has been a dramatic improvement in student access to ICT. Average student to computer ratios are down from 37:1 to just over 11:1 at primary level and from 16:1 to 9:1 at second level. All schools now have Internet and e-mail facilities. The vast majority of teachers have received ICT training and development and school principals have received professional advice and support in ICT planning and development. Use of ICT in the curriculum has increased significantly.
Through the current three year plan, Blueprint for the Future of ICT in Education, due to conclude at the end of this year, officials in my Department are preparing a new strategic plan which will build on achievements to date and enhance the integration of ICT in education at first and second level. Key priorities in this regard will be further development of schools' ICT infrastructure with particular emphasis on networking computer facilities; provision of broadband Internet access and related technical supports; new professional development programmes for teachers with particular emphasis on pedagogical use of ICT; advancement of ICT as a teaching and learning tool across the curriculum, providing access to quality educational resources on-line for use in learning and teaching and monitoring and evaluating the impact of ICT at school level to ensure that ICT resources contribute effectively to learning outcomes.
