Public high school teachers to get wireless laptops – plus 20,000 more computers for primary schools

On 1 February 2009, the Premier of New South Wales, Nathan Rees, announced that all 25,000 NSW public high school teachers would receive a wireless laptop as part of a new $44 million investment in computers in schools.

The roll-out will begin this year (2009) with all public high school teachers having a laptop by 2012. The roll-out to teachers complements the laptop program for the state’s 197,000 senior high school students.

It means that students and teachers will use the same type of laptop, giving teachers compatibility in planning and delivering lessons electronically.

The Department of Education and Training is currently assessing tender submissions for the supply of laptops in NSW public high schools. It expects to award a contract by the end of February 2009.

As part of the $44 million package, primary schools will receive 20,000 more computers over four years. This will provide students and teachers with access to the most up-to-date technology in the early school years.

$28 million of Australian Government funding will be used to provide teachers with professional development in the use of the new technology.

The NSW Government will spend more than $1.2 billion on IT in public schools over the next four years.

The program will make NSW public schools one of the largest and fastest school IT networks in the world, e.g.:

• 1 million school and TAFE student email accounts
• All public schools connected to the internet
• A program to buy 100,000 classroom computers plus an additional 20,000 for primary schools over four years
• 600 Connected Classrooms to date – a program to provide every Government school with an interactive whiteboard, videoconferencing facilities and online learning tools
• A $36 million investment each year in teacher training, including IT training 
• The roll out of laptops to high school students and teachers.

The $1.2 billion investment is part of the NSW Government’s plan to provide quality teaching and learning that keeps pace with developments in technology, and provides public school students with a world-class education.