10 September 2009

Federal Member for Kingsford Smith, Peter Garrett, today welcomed the delivery of 184 laptops to Randwick Girls High School as part of the Rudd Government’s Digital Education Revolution.

The $2.1 billion National Secondary School Computer Fund is a key component of the Digital Education Revolution which is delivering a computer for every secondary school student in years 9-12.

Mr Garrett said this was an exciting time for Randwick Girls High.

“The Rudd Government is determined to bring classrooms into the 21st Century and ensure that every school in this country is a great school.

“Part of this is our investment of $2.1 billion to ensure that every Australian school student in years 9-12 will have access to a computer.

“This is about ensuring Australian students are equipped with the skills they need for the workforce of tomorrow,” Mr Garrett said.

Randwick Girls High School Principal, Mrs Heather Emerson, at the school’s Year 9 digital learning/laptop evening briefed parents about the benefits these computers will give students.

“Our young women will no longer be just learning about technology, they will be able to access and use technology as ‘digital natives’, linking with their teachers and the wider world to ensure the best of personalised individual learning programs for each student,” Mrs Emerson said.

The schools first allocation of computers (184 of 236) will be delivered in the week beginning 14 September.

Almost 2700 secondary schools across Australia have now been approved for funding to purchase almost 290,000 new computers through the first, second and supplementary rounds.

All secondary schools in Australia have been given the opportunity to apply for funding to bring them to a 1:2 computer-to-student ratio, including funding for ongoing costs.

By 2011, the Digital Education Revolution will have delivered funding to enable schools to achieve a 1:1 computer to student ratio for all Year 9-12 students.

For more information, visit www.digitaleducationrevolution.gov.au