Computer rollout hits problems

By

Bob Lipscombe

Private schools look likely to get federally funded computers first.

Although teachers in many public schools in NSW spent many hours preparing their school's applications, significant issues relating to infrastructure and support need to be addressed by the NSW Department of Education and Training (DET) before the Federal Government's "Digital Revolution" arrives in public school.

As a consequence of this, unlike private schools in the first round, no DET school is likely to see any computers under the program before the 2009 school year.

Following the announcement of its proposed "Digital Revolution" in the federal election campaign and the promise that a future ALP government would deliver a years 9-12 student to computer ratio of 1:1 across the country, one of the first initiatives the new government announced was the allocation of $1 billion for what it termed the "National Secondary Schools Computer Fund" (NSSCF). The funds were to be spent over four years (2008 to 2011) with individual schools receiving total grants of up to $1 million. With the state governments expressing concern over the funding they would have to provide to support the rollout, the May Federal Budget saw the allocation of an additional $200 million over the life of the program.

The initial $1 billion provided for $900 million to be allocated to schools for new or upgraded information and communication technology (ICT) and $100 million to fund the Fibre Connections to Schools initiative to improve the speed of broadband connections. The additional $200 million announced in May includes $32.6 million over two years for online curriculum tools and resources, and $10 million over three years to assist schools to make the best use of ICT through the development of support mechanisms.

The Federal Government has also committed to development of a web portal for parents. However, it is not clear if funds have been provided for this.

After an assessment of school computer numbers in December 2007, in which only computers no older than four years as at June 30, 2008 were counted, the NSSCF invited expressions of interest from the 902 schools (of the 2967 public and private schools nationally with years 9-12 students) with a student to computer ratio of 8:1 or worse. Approximately 300 of the schools in the first round are public schools in NSW.

The Federal Government estimates that it will require $120 million to take the 902 schools to a ratio of 2:1. Allocations to private schools will generally be directly to the school on the basis of $1000 per computer unit. If the school purchases computers for less than $1000, the school will be able to retain the difference for ICT related expenditure.

Applications will be invited from the remaining schools in July. As with the first round, successful schools will have two years to expend funds. Some private schools which require parents to purchase a laptop through a school program are expected to miss out funding (at least at this stage) as they will have to count these laptops when calculating the existing student to computer ratio in their schools.

Although teachers in many public schools in NSW spent many hours preparing their school's application under the program, the DET has now determined that the rollout to NSW public schools will be in line with centrally determined criteria. While the funds will be attracted by individual schools, the grant money will be allocated to the DET to manage. With the DET determining the price at which computers will be supplied to public schools it is unlikely that any savings will accrue to individual schools. Prior to the Federal Budget, DET estimated that for every $1 the Federal Government is expending, the additional cost to the NSW Government to support and maintain the computers could be $3 to $4.

With little detail available at this time, DET has announced that it is implementing a "proposal" that includes:

• a wireless network for all schools with years 9-12 students
• providing a "high end educational laptop" for schools to purchase
• moving, over time, to a 1:1 years 9-12 student to laptop ratio
• providing improved on-site technical support in every secondary school
• a professional development program re: use of laptops
• development of "authorised" curriculum materials
• individual students should be responsible for each laptop and be allowed to "take it home it home to help them with projects in a collaborative and connected world".

Although representatives of the Secondary Principals Council have supported laptops for all schools and the 'take it home' model, DET states that schools can decide not to allow students to take computers home. While DET's 'proposal' refers to on-site technical support and professional development, it has not yet developed any detail.

At a meeting between DET and Federation Officers on May 8, it was stated DET anticipates that the first of the computers under rounds 1 and 2 of the rollout will not reach schools until the beginning of the 2009 school year. This delay is occurring as negotiations continue with the Federal Government as to the extent "reasonable and additional costs" will be borne by the Federal Government, and as DET attempts to resolve a number of problems, including the need to call for tenders on specifications which do not currently exist in any commercially available laptop, support in schools and wireless infrastructure. DET does not propose to specify particular brand software as part of the contract tender specifications, but does expect the successful tender to include software that addresses the contract specifications.

Federation is continuing to pursue the issues, including teacher workload, arising from the rollout, with DET and the Government.

Bob Lipscombe is Deputy President.