Free broadband access for schools
- Published: 16 July 2005
ALL schools will have broadband access before the end of the next school year, giving free, 'always on' high speed links to the Internet.
Seven contractors have been appointed to connect the 3,925 schools as part of an €18m joint government and industry deal and work got under way last month.
All schools will be have their broadband connections by March next year.
A National Schools Network has been established to provide managed internet access, email, security controls, content filtering and other services designed to enhance the educational process.
The National Council for Technology in Education (NCTE) has also set up a help desk for schools and, along with the schools network, brings the value of the programme to €30m over the next three years.
Education Minister Mary Hanafin said that the provision of broadband access to all schools represented a crucial element in the Government's policy of integrating information and communications technology (ICT) into teaching and learning.
Click here to access the article on the Irish Independent website - www.unison.ie
