[LINK] Rudd's vow, but cost of computers to hit states

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

<brd>
Yet another poorly thought through IT project?
<brd>

Rudd's vow, but cost of computers to hit states
Anna Patty Education Editor
March 29, 2008
SMH
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/rudds-vow-but-cost-of-computers-to-hit-states/2008/03/28/1206207408009.html

The State Government is considering using wireless laptops rather than 
expensive cable-connected desktop computers to avoid some of the extra 
costs they have been lumped with because of the education promises Labor 
made before the federal election.

Labor made an election vow to deliver a computer for every school child, 
but only committed to providing the hardware. The states have strongly 
objected to the huge extra costs, running into hundreds of millions of 
dollars, for the cabling, security, software licensing and maintenance 
of the centrepiece of Kevin Rudd's "education revolution".

Left to foot the bill for the associated costs, the states have made it 
clear the Government should take care of its own election commitments. 
"They now understand that this is going to cost us a lot of money," said 
a spokesman for the NSW Minister for Education, John Della Bosca.

A communique issued after the premiers' conference on Wednesday 
acknowledged that the Federal Government should be responsible for its 
election commitments involving extra costs for states and territories.

At the same meeting, the Federal Government agreed to provide incentive 
payments to deliver education programs in disadvantaged schools. A 
working group from the premiers' conference is expected to negotiate 
with the states on which areas the payments will cover and how they will 
be distributed.

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, said yesterday that she 
wanted to deliver reforms in a nationally co-ordinated way.

"Working with struggling schools, which are often in low socio-economic 
status school communities, will be a key priority. This will involve 
extra resources, which we want to make sure are well-targeted, 
integrated and focused on delivering improved outcomes."

The Federal Opposition said many schools would get a computer but no 
internet connection.

"The Rudd Government has refused to commit to funding the ongoing costs 
like broadband access, rewiring and adding power outlets, higher 
electricity bills, air-conditioning, security, insurance, maintenance of 
the network and hardware," said Brett Mason, the shadow parliamentary 
secretary for education.

"These are not insignificant costs; the cost of rewiring a school to 
accommodate new computers will be over $100,000 for the average school."

The president of the NSW Secondary Principals Council, Jim McAlpine, has 
written to principals advising them to hold-off on responses to the 
Government's online survey about what they need to achieve the promised 
digital revolution.

"The [council] is currently in consultation with the Department of 
Education and Training to establish the best possible approach to 
achieving the digital revolution in our schools," he wrote. While most 
of you will have received letters from the Commonwealth asking you to 
start completing online submissions, there are dangers in jumping in too 
early."

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Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Sydney Australia
brd at iimetro.com.au