School Computers

Mr PETER DRAPER: My question is addressed to the Premier. Given the Federal Government's $1 billion package to give students in years 9 to 12 improved access to computers, why have New South Wales school principals been directed to purchase only $1,000 wireless laptops when $650 desktop computers are the preferred option of many schools? How does the Government intend funding essential networks and support mechanisms to ensure these laptops are used and not put into storage?

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: The Commonwealth Government's $1 billion computer fund complements our commitment to provide $158 million for the Connected Classrooms Program, which will provide every public school student an online workspace and every public school a connected classroom. The department has written to secondary school principals and recommended that they, through the Commonwealth, purchase a high-end educational laptop. Why? So that we can use our market power to purchase laptops and achieve better value for the students. By using our market in this way we will be able to provide better support and related information technology services for the schools that participate in the program.

We are recommending to secondary school principals something that will achieve a better outcome for the students, and provide more safety, security and reliability of the laptop and the associated support—the information technology support, the teacher support and the entire related infrastructure required to deliver on the Commonwealth's promise. Following the Counsel of Australian Governments meeting I am very pleased to report that the Commonwealth acknowledges that its election promise to provide these computers involves a cost to the States, and has agreed to work cooperatively to close the funding gap that it has created for the States. By working together and by using our existing contracts and the power that the Department of Education and Training has in the market when it comes to procuring computers and information technology services, which includes support services, we will be able to achieve a better outcome.