Repercussions flow from computer uncertainty

By Wendy Currie

The NSW Government's new policy, to buy rather than lease computers, is having serious repercussions in schools.

The January computer roll-out to schools occurred, but there has been no further roll-out since then. Schools were notified in September that the first release of computers under the new arrangements was to occur in term 4.

The delay has given schools with old computers no joy, while those that leased their computers are in a particularly difficult position. Once the lease is up they are faced with handing back the computers or buying them. They are prevented from renewing the leases. The longer the delay in the DET delivering the new computers, the greater the likelihood of schools finding themselves between a rock and a hard place.

Decisions have to be made now about courses schools will offer next year. The current uncertainty about when, or indeed if, the roll-out will occur this year, coupled with the now mandatory information and communication technology competencies in all syllabuses, means that some schools are undecided about whether they can support a range of computer/information technology electives next year.

Hardware and software provision is only one aspect of the capacity of schools both to teach the mandatory competencies and technology based syllabuses and to incorporate technology into teaching and learning.

Even if the new computers do materialise this term, the issue of technology support has not been solved. Nor is it likely to be in the near future. The DET ran a trial of various methods of support provision last year, but Federation understands that Treasury has failed to allocate funding for the purpose of improving the current abysmal level of technology support.

In this context it is outrageous for DET to expect schools to cooperate with the Webservices project. Putting aside for the moment the equally significant issues of privacy, workload, training, and efficiency of the project itself, how DET can expect teachers to engage with such a project when they can't even feel confident that they will have computers at all, let alone computers that work, is beyond comprehension.

DET and the NSW Government appear to lack a clear view of where Information and Communication Technology (ICT), in teaching and learning is now, where it will be going in the future, and an appropriate overall strategy that might provide and draw together the threads necessary to get there.

Either that, or they do have a clear view and a strategy which involves teachers carrying the burden of this themselves. Bear in mind that, call it what you will-- Webservices, ISP, e-learning accounts -- none of it will work without a political and bureaucratic will to provide a supportive context in which it can not only operate, but flourish.

Webservices remains banned. Though there have been some discussions, DET has shown little inclination to find solutions to the issues that will affect teachers and their work, whether they be issues particular to Webservices itself, or broader issues affecting the use of ICT in schools.

Wendy Currie is a Research Officer.

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