Internet access for teachers and pupils planned

Telecommunication lines, Internet access and an email address for every teacher and student at primary and post-primary level within six months are some of the ambitions outlined in an Information Technology (IT) 2000 programme yesterday.

The £50 million programme to bring information technology to the heart of school life is to be completed within three years, one year ahead of the original target. It will bring Ireland from "the third division" to "the premier league" in information technology in schools, said the Minister for Education, Mr Martin.

The programme was an "ambitious, comprehensive and innovative plan" which had secure funding and would make rapid progress.

Mr Martin was speaking at the announcement of the programme by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, at St Aidan's Christian Brothers School, Collins Avenue, Dublin, the Taoiseach's alma mater. It was also attended by the chief executive of Telecom Eireann, Mr Alfie Kane. Telecom Eireann has contributed £10 million towards the programme.

Mr Martin said that within three years 60,000 multimedia computers would be supplied to schools and 20,000 teachers would receive IT training. Pre-service training for all new teachers is to be introduced.

A permanent support structure is to be put in place, involving curriculum innovations to enhance IT use in the classroom. A Scoil-Net project will establish an on-line advisory and support service. A National Centre for Technology in Education will be created in Dublin City University.

Mr Martin said the objective of the programme was "to make Ireland a world leader in school-based IT developments". At present Ireland "lags significantly behind its European partners in the integration of information technologies in our schools".

Mr Martin invited other organisations to follow the example of Telecom Eireann and realise the importance of supporting programmes such as IT 2000.

Mr Kane said that, by next summer, Telecom Eireann would introduce an ISDN or PSTN line in all 4,000 primary and post-primary schools, provide Internet access with free use up to a certain level, and give an email address to every teacher and student.

Telecom was also committed to piloting emerging technologies in 40 selected schools.

Mr Ahern described the programme as one of the most important initiatives the country will undertake as it approaches the turn of the century.

The Taoiseach, who graduated from the school in 1969, urged the assembled students to make full use of their school years. "If you get it wrong you could end up like me, running the country. If you get it right you could make a lot of money."

The Fine Gael spokesman on education, Mr Richard Bruton, said the programme was welcome but still left Ireland in the "second division". Forty-five per cent of all teachers would now receive IT training and there would be one computer for every 14 pupils. The best countries were achieving one computer for every 10 pupils and 100 per cent teacher training.