Computers for Pupils
Computers for Pupils is the DfES’s latest big-ticket IT investment from the Standards Fund (along with £125m for eLearning Credits). The two-year initiative will give £60m to 1000 schools in 108 Local Education Authorities, who will then provide IT at home (including hardware, software and internet access) for their most needy Key Stage 3 and 4 students. Eligibility will be based on students who live in the most disadvantaged areas in the UK as defined by the 2004 Index of Multiple Deprivation.
One small weakness in the government’s plan is that those who qualify will only get an average of about one year’s internet access. Some schools may provide this free via their existing wireless systems but for those who have to take out subscriptions the government hopes that after a year they will decide to pay for this themselves. However, if they can’t afford it now why would they be able to in a year’s time? Perhaps the government hopes that they’ll take advantage of the new ‘free’ broadband services, but as we all know there is no free anything.
Parents and guardians who are offered computers will also have to enter into an Acceptable Use agreement with the school, although the DfES has asked them to ‘avoid overly legalised language’. Is ‘legalised’ a real word? Not according to the lexicographers at the Oxford Dictionary.
Perhaps this is an example of what the former Permanent Secretary at the DfES, Sir David Normington, was alluding to when he said to the Commons Education Select Committee, ‘As an employer myself I sometimes see the standards of English and maths are not good enough amongst those in my employment’?
To further minimise any liability that could occur, the DfES also wants schools to purchase all equipment through BECTA’s new Infrastructure Services Framework, due to be launched this month. In addition the DfES wants schools to make sure parents are aware of the dangers of virus infection (we assume they mean computer viruses?) as well as the:
· Health and Safety Act
· Data Protection Act 1998
· Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988
· Computer Misuse Act 1989
Finally, parents and students won’t own the kit - the school will. But we doubt the DfES will ever ask schools to ask for it back because if they do this may become a junior version of the Individual Learning Accounts fiasco.