Computers boost for NI schools

Thousands of laptops are being provided

Details of a £13m investment to provide schools in Northern Ireland with 6,000 laptop computers and almost 1,000 digital projectors has been unveiled.

The computers will help teachers prepare and present visual lessons, with one laptop for every two teachers being provided.

Already, 5,800 laptops have been provided in the province's schools over the last two years.

The 1,000 projectors will enable teachers to show lessons to the class on large screens, instead of writing on black or white boards.

Martin McGuinness revealed details of scheme

Education Minister Martin McGuinness made the announcement during a visit to Hazelwood College, Belfast on Wednesday.

Mr McGuinness said that local IT services company, Sx3 and IT company Compaq had been awarded a £13.2m order to implement the latest stage of the government's Education Technology Strategy.

"I am aware that laptop computers, provided previously to support teachers' ICT training, have already made a very significant difference to their professional development and to their lesson preparation," he said.

"Laptops are also proving effective in dealing with unavoidable administrative tasks. "

He said more than one third of teachers had already signed up to the teachers' education programme in Information and Communications Technology.

Maintenance

"This is a clear indication of our teaching profession's commitment to continuing professional development," he added.

"It will enable our children and young people to acquire the skills they need to learn, work and live in an economy in which information technology plays an increasingly important part."

IT services company, SX3, which is a member of the Viridian Group, has won the contract to supply the hardware and to provide round-the-clock maintenance.

Sales & marketing director with SX3, Noel Brady, said the announcement confirmed the company's experience in managing large scale projects for an education sector.