13 Feabh 2013, 17:50
The Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection today met Department of Education Officials for a wide ranging discussion on how digital literacy can be best embedded across the school curriculum.
13 February 2013
A recent survey found that students in Irish schools ranked 8th out of the 19 countries that participated in the OECD's Digital Literacy test. Just four countries, Korea, New Zealand, Australia and Japan, had significantly higher scores than Ireland.
Committee Chair Joanna Tuffy TD says: “With so much of our daily lives now conducted online, embedding digital literacy in the school curriculum is an imperative. This afternoon, we heard from officials on plans to further develop ICT infrastructure in Irish schools. We take on board the argument that, in such a fast-moving and dynamic space, assembling the relevant research to make the best policy decisions is a challenge.
The Committee were encouraged that professional development for teachers is going hand-in-hand with the roll out of technology nationally, and that there was a willingness among educators to embrace change in this area. Some concerns were expressed, however, that access to the latest technology was uneven across the country, with schools in disadvantaged areas in danger of lagging behind. We also argued that, once the capital investment in technology had taken place, schools should be able to tap specialised IT support to resolve any issues with ease.”
Ends
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
F: +3531 618 4551
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Committee Membership
Deputies:
James Bannon, Fine Gael
Ray Butler, Fine Gael
Joan Collins, People Before Profit
Clare Daly, Independent
Brendan Griffin, Fine Gael
Simon Harris, Fine Gael
Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fáil
Nicky McFadden, Fine Gael
Jonathan O'Brien, Sinn Féin
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Fine Gael
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Labour Party (Vice Chair)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Sinn Féin
Willie O’Dea, Fianna Fáil
Brendan Ryan, Labour Party
Joanna Tuffy, Labour Party (Chair)
Senators:
Jim D’Arcy
Fidelma Healy Eames
Marie Moloney
Averil Power
Diarmuid Wilson