Fermoy school goes digital thanks to anoymous benefactor

Heavy school bags are set to become a thing of the past in a school with its eyes on the future.

Fri, 13 Mar, 2015 - 00:00

Eoin English

An anonymous benefactor has helped Bishop Murphy Memorial School in Fermoy, north Cork, to become the first in Ireland to fully embrace the digital age.

While several schools have seen selected classes use iPads in the classroom, this 102-pupil six teacher school believes it is first primary school to provide everybody in the school — students and staff members alike — with their own personal tablet.

They each took delivery of their device yesterday, just over 120 tablets in total, thanks to an estimated €50,000 philanthropic donation from a businessman who has insisted his identity, and the value of the donation, be kept secret.

Principal James O’Donoghue said the 1904-founded school has a proud record of IT-driven initiatives.

But he hailed yesterday as a great day for primary education in Ireland and said the donation will revolutionise the way children are taught.

“Technology is something we have tried to embrace over the years, and we firmly believe that the use of these tablets will enhance the learning experience for children, help deliver on their potential and also make work more satisfying for our staff,” he said.

Thanks to fundraising by the board of management and parents’ association, the school has installed a mobile device management system to control each iPad’s security, camera and filter settings, to ensure only sanctioned apps and content can be accessed in the classroom.

The school has improved its wifi and installed charging points to cope with the quantity of devices. Its teachers are training with Apple staff to ensure they can make full use of the educational opportunities provided.

Children will not be allowed to bring the school tablets home, but their homework and other assignments will be emailed so they can work at home on other devices.

Mr O’Donoghue said they hope to strike a balance between using the iPad as a learning tool while also focusing on traditional skills of reading and handwriting.

Board of management chairman, John Molloy, thanked the benefactor for the donation, and all those who helped kit out the school. He also praised Mr O’Donoghue and his staff for their vision and ambition.