Call for school computer investment

THE Government spends barely one-third per student of the amount allocated in England on computers and technology in schools, business organisation IBEC has claimed.

It suggested that, despite massive increases in Department of Education funding for schools information and communications technology (ICT), even more must be secured in this week’s Budget if investment is to be brought in line with elsewhere in Europe.

According to ICT Ireland, IBEC’s hi-tech representative body, the average €40 per student derived from the 2007 planned spend of €32 million on capital and current schools ICT compares to €110m-per-head spent in English schools.