Senator Gillard calls for participation in Labor’s $1B Digital Education revolution

According to Senator Gillard, the Digital Education Revolution will change classroom education by ensuring that all students in years nine to 12 have access to information and communication technology.

“The Rudd Government believes that every Australian child deserves a world class education,” said Senator Gillard. “This includes investing in our school infrastructure – including computers in schools and trade training centres, investing in our teachers and establishing a national curriculum.”

The first $100 million of the National Secondary School Computer Fund will be directed to the schools most in need by June 2008.

The Rudd Government will also invest $100 million over four years as a contribution to the provision of high-speed fibre-to-the-premises broadband connections to schools, she said.

“To identify the needy schools a preliminary audit is being undertaken by State and Territory Government education departments, the Associations of Independent Schools and the Catholic Education Offices,” said Gillard.

According to the Senator, the audit will identify the existing number of computers in each school to facilitate the commencement of the application process for the neediest schools in early March, with applications closing in early April 2008.

Applications for the second round will be open to all Australian secondary schools in July 2008.

Further information on the Digital Education Revolution, including the National Secondary School Computer Fund, is available at: www.digitaleducationrevolution.gov.au