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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 11 Hansard (6 November) . . Page.. 3834 ..

MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION NUMBER 458

Schools and Colleges - Information Technology Improvements

MS McRAE- asked the Minister for Education and Training on notice on 4 September 1997:

How much funding has been allocated for IT improvements in all schools and colleges in the years (a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997.

MR STEFANIAK- the answer to Ms McRae's question is:

Each year $155,000 is allocated for support to the current schools' administration system. A replacement administration system with enhanced functionality has received funding of $1.7m over 1996-1998. Additional resources are being devoted to the project from within existing budget.

Annual grants are provided for schools to undertake exemplar IT projects. Grants of $60,000, $69,000 and $74,000 were made in 1995, 1996 and 1997 respectively. Approximately 10 grants are provided each year.

School district IT teacher networks receive $16,000 each year, most of which is spent on professional development.

Networked internet installation costs of $150,000 were incurred in 1996 and annual support costs of $50,000 are incurred for eight colleges and two new schools using the ACT public sector internet server. Most schools now use Canberra Schools on the Net (CSN) (a dial up service), which was allocated $10,000 in 1997 for installation. Running costs are met by schools.

Two officers provide educational IT support and CSN teachers and students administrative support at an annual cost of approximately $60,000.

Approximately $65,000 is provided annually for CSN help desk and technical support to schools.

Ten IT trainees are providing direct IT support to primary schools with the ACT subsidising $35,000 of salary costs in 1997.

Two IT trainers provide subsidised training. Subsidy is approximately $50,000 per annum after costs of $130,000 are offset by course fees of $80,000.

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