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Monday, January 12, 1998 Published at 18:23 GMT

Schools get Internet boost

A group of companies have joined together with the backing of the Government to boost the use of computer technology and the Internet in schools.

The private-public sector partnership is an effort to raise awareness of the potential of the Internet as an education tool.

[ image: UK NetYear plans to help connect another 11,000 schools to the Internet in the next 12 months]
UK NetYear plans to help connect another 11,000 schools to the Internet in the next 12 months
Called UK NetYear, the year-long initiative was launched on Monday at venues in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It forms part of the Government's policy, announced at the Labour party conference last year, of getting every school in the country hooked up to the Internet.

BBC correspondent Matt McGrath reports at the launch of UK Net Year (2'00")
One of the main problems UK NetYear will face is raising sufficient money to keep up the momentum of the project.

It currently has a budget of around Ł2m and plans a publicity campaign to appeal to businesses and local communities for support.

David Wimpress, Chairman of UK NetYear, said financing was a "big barrier" but he was "cautiously optimistic" that the programme would fulfill its aims.

UK NetYear aims to:

Set up a charity with an initial target of raising Ł10m during 1998 to help schools, particularly those in deprived areas, get connected to the Internet.
Target businesses and local communities, encouraging them to become involved in sponsorship and fundraising, helping out schools with financial difficulties or special needs.
Train teachers to use the Internet for teaching and learning. NetYear plans to make an instructive CD-Rom on "how to use the Internet" available for every school that registers with NetYear via its website.
Encourage volunteers within IT literate workforces to come forward and provide guidance for schools.
Boost the number of schools connected to the Internet from the current figure of 6,000 to 17,000 by December 1998

[ image: Tony Blair pledged Ł100m to boost schools' access to technology and the Internet]
Tony Blair pledged Ł100m to boost schools' access to technology and the Internet
National Grid for Learning

Another aim of UK NetYear is to prepare the way for one of the main Government proposals for education in 1998 - the setting up of what has been named the "National Grid for Learning". Proposals for this were outlined in the consultation paper "Connecting the Learning Society".

Minister for Lifelong Education, Kim Howells, discusses the initiative (2'48")
The "national grid" is likely to take the form of a mini-internet network connecting schools, colleges and public libraries. It is expected to be in place by September 1998.

At the hub of of "the grid" will be a "virtual teacher centre" which will detail teaching methods, links with other useful website and provide space for online discussions between teachers.

The multi-billionaire computer tycoon, Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, has promised to be on hand to act as adviser in designing the system.

[ image: Bill Gates, Managing Director of Microsoft, will act as an adviser]
Bill Gates, Managing Director of Microsoft, will act as an adviser
The Government also wants three-quarters of teachers and half of pupils to have e-mail accounts by 2000.

It has committed Ł100m to developing information and communications technology (ICT) for schools.

By 2002 it is expected that all communication between schools and the government Department for Education and Employment will cease to be paper-based.

Industry to benefit

Despite prospective financial problems in funding the programme, companies such as ICL and Sun Microsystems, who already sponsor UK NetYear, stand to benefit considerably as the use of technology in schools expands.

The increase in demand, possibly one day even leading to individual computer workspaces for each child, will be a boost for computer manufacturers and stimulate growth in areas like software development.

BT to provide access

British Telecom (BT) will provide access to the Internet for around Ł790 per year per school, with a reduced rate for call charges.

[ image: Teachers will be taught how to use the Internet too]
Teachers will be taught how to use the Internet too
BT had agreed to connect schools, libraries, colleges and hospitals to the internet, initially for free.

But in May 1997, BT said schools would be charged Ł790 a year for three hours daily use of up to 15 computers.

With the intervention of the industry watchdog, Oftel, BT agreed to provide 10 hours a day, but proposed no change to the charge.

In July 1997, Oftel cleared the programme drawn up by BT to give schools what it considers to be affordable access to the Internet.

Oftel had wanted to compare the prices that BT charged for access to the service compared to that offered by the cable companies. As a result, Labour has faced some criticism for its work with BT as being uncompetitive.

Schools could also be connected to the Internet via a global satellite network. Reports suggest that Microsoft's Bill Gates, who is currently setting up such a network which will become operational in 2002, is interested in providing access for British schools too.


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	Internet Links UK NetYear Connecting the Learning Society - Full Text Summary of the Government's Consultation Paper on 'The National Grid for Learning' Oftel - access to the superhighway for schools British Telecom Microsoft Sun Microsystems ICL The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.