29th January 2010 DES Strategy on ICT is an embarrassing shambles
- Last Updated: Friday, 29 January 2010 12:14
Children are losing out on learning opportunities because there is no coherent national strategy for technology in primary schools. This was the message from IPPN Director, Sean Cottrell in his address to over 1,100 Principals and invited guests at Irish Primary Principals' Network's (IPPN) annual conference in Citywest Hotel, Dublin. Mr Cottrell was 'scathing' of the Government's disjointed and under-funded National Strategy for ICT in Education and called for an e-learning infrastructure that would enable children to use technology to access the curriculum.
'If technology is harnessed appropriately in the classroom, it can make the curriculum come alive and enable children learn at their own speed and challenge level with materials that are appropriate to their needs. The curriculum needs to re-examined in light of these issues' said Mr Cottrell.
ENDS
For over 20 years through the efforts of Principals, teachers and parents, many schools have been using technology to enhance and diversify what and how children learn. Through concerted fundraising and the expertise and skills of teachers and parents, many schools have made impressive use of technology in teaching and learning. Sadly not all schools have been able to do this. In the absence of a coherent national strategy for primary schools, we are a long way from having even a basic structure in place in all schools. Given that internationally Ireland's name is synonymous with the IT industry, it is simply inexcusable that we are so far behind.
