FED: Schools invited to be part of education revolution

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2007
FED: Schools invited to be part of education revolution

CANBERRA, Dec 7 AAP - Schools will be invited to apply for up to $1 million each to
buy computer and technology equipment for students and classrooms.

Federal cabinet yesterday signed off on the first stage of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's
education revolution - giving every student in Years Nine to 12 access to their own computer
at school.

The total package, worth $1 billion, will be split among schools which will be able
to apply for funding for technological resources from March next year.

Mr Rudd says schools will be able to spend the money on computers, interactive whiteboards,
broadband connections, digital projectors and other equipment.

He says the government will conduct an audit of each school's computer resources and
broadband access.

Those identified as most in need of new equipment will be given top priority when the
first $100 million from the fund is distributed from March.

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the government will need to boost teacher
training to ensure those in the profession and those currently in training are equipped
to use computers as a classroom teaching aid.

AAP dcr/cjh/cdh

KEYWORD: EDUCATION DAYLEAD

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