WA pumps cash into tech needy K-12 schools

The WA government has released the first tranche of cash in its four-year, $20 million '100 Schools Project' that seeks to assist technology development among the state's most needy primary and secondary schools.

Western Australia's education minister Alan Carpenter announced the allocation of an initial $3.5 million in funding for the first 34 schools – of which 19 in are in metropolitan areas and 15 are in rural or regional areas.

Carpenter said the 100 Schools Project specifically aims to give less fortunate children access to computers through schools. The program also seeks to improve the computer literacy and IT teaching skills of the teacher population in these 100 targeted schools.

“It is a clear fact that all children – and their teachers – need to have computer skills to survive in the modern economy,” Carpenter said.

“Many children gain these skills at home – but many do not. This program is aimed at those who do not,” he said.

The project delivers improved computer equipment, network infrastructure, and extensive teacher professional development, all of which is designed to deliver better technology services to staff and students

Of the $20 million allocated to the program, $11 million is to be spent on technology infrastructure improvements and $6 million for ongoing teacher development, Carpenter said.

A further $3 million will go toward a variety of online technology, including improved Internet bandwidth.