New Digital Strategy plan will invest €200m in schools over next 5 years
The Government plans to bring high-speed broadband to all schools under a new Digital Strategy.
€30m is being invested in schools next year, as part of the five year plan, which was announced this morning.
The plan lists WiFi as a priority for schools, as well as the wider use of digital devices in classrooms.
The Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan has said it is the biggest ever investment in technology in schools, with more than €200m to be spent over five years.
O’Sullivan has said it (the Digital Strategy) aims to bring all schools up to a good standard, although it is not yet known which ones will get a share of the funding.
“We are going to take the time next year really to figure out what is best, I mean different schools are in different places,” Minister O’Sullivan
“Some of them do not have high speed broadband at all, others do, some have a lot of IT equipment, others do not. So we are going to work out what each school needs.
“We don’t have a set amount for each school at this point.”
@merrionstreet delighted to see teacher training included #digitalschools
— Mags (@MaggieMGreen) October 7, 2015
Thanks to @mercyinchicore @dputtnam @theharrymcc and @endakennytd for hosting and supporting #digitalschools strategy launch
— Jan O'Sullivan (@JanOSullivanTD) October 7, 2015
Digital Schools of Distinction part of new #digitalschools strategy http://t.co/Vw2mkkWY0j @digital_schools pic.twitter.com/LCI03bMpi9
— Anna Doody (@AnnaDoody) October 7, 2015
Key themes of the Digital Strategy for Schools #DigitalSchools pic.twitter.com/GQ2EIIv1SH
— MerrionStreet.ie (@merrionstreet) October 7, 2015
Today @JanOSullivanTD has launched the largest ever investment in digital technology in our schools. #digitalschools pic.twitter.com/nUjGF2ectG
— The Labour Party (@labour) October 7, 2015
Director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) Clive Byrne has said: “The NAPD welcomes the publication of today’s Digital Strategy and the dedicated budget of €200 million for technology in schools.
“This investment is long overdue, given that schools have received no State funding for computers and other IT equipment in the last five years.
