Anonymous donor gives iPad to every pupil in Cork school
Bishop Murphy Memorial School in Fermoy has been handed an “opportunity of a lifetime”, according to principal James O’Donoghue. He believes it will be the first primary school in the country to provide a tablet to each individual pupil.
“It is fantastic for us, it really is an exciting development for the school and we are really looking forward to having it up and running,” Mr O’Donoghue said. The principal explained that the 103-pupil school was approached by an anonymous donor with links to the technology sector who chose Bishop Murphy’s because of its previous IT-driven initiatives.
“They knew our attitude to IT and our history of integrating it into our teaching. We have a good history and are seen as a school that is progressive,” he said.
The school will not be disclosing the amount donated or the name of the benefactor.
The periphery considerations of the scheme — such as the installation of a school mobile device management system, improved wifi, tablet cases and teacher training — means that the devices will not be in the hands of the pupils at the school until the new year, but Mr O’Donoghue said that the school had ambitious plans once the scheme was up and running.
“This is not a gimmick. We really want this to be integrated into the children’s learning through proper educational applications. This will revolutionise the way we teach, but it is completely child-centred learning,” he said.
