ICT funding boost for Co. Louth VEC schools and centres

The CEO Dr. Pádraig Kirk has welcomed the recent ICT infrastructure grants for schools and Youthreach Centres made available by the Department of Education and Skills. Under the programme all post-primary schools will receive funding to allow them to upgrade their computer systems and infrastructure. The Smart Schools initiative forms part of the Government’s implementation strategy of the recent Smart School = Smart Economy report, and the 2008 ICT Strategy Report.

In the case of Co. Louth VEC it will mean that Bush Post-primary School, O’Fiaich College, Scoil Uí Mhuirí, St. Oliver’s Community College, Drogheda Institute of Further Education and Dundalk and Drogheda Youthreach Centres are all set to have their computer technology systems significantly enhanced. Speaking about this extra funding the CEO said that “Co. Louth VEC schools are already well renowned for having moved with the times in terms of installing and making effective use of ICT in the teaching and learning process … these grants will now allow for our schools and centres to keep pushing ahead at implementing the most up-to-date technological innovations in education”.

The ICT infrastructure grant will allow for completion of the installation of teaching computers and digital projectors in all teaching and learning spaces within the scheme’s schools and Institutes of Further Education. Work is already well underway in some of the schools in this respect, and it is expected that all schools/centres will have the new technology installed by Easter 2011. Co. Louth VEC will also be prioritising the use of ICT in the teaching of Mathematics, Science and other core and optional subject areas across the curriculum. New computer technology has recently been introduced into the teaching of Science across the scheme’s schools, for example, while the introduction of music technology to enhance the teaching of Junior and Leaving Certificate Music is also planned.

The grants will also allow schools/centres to acquire a bank of innovative technologies for use in classrooms such as interactive whiteboards, visualisers, mobile multi-media stations, interactive digital projectors, laptop computers and i-technology/touch screen devices. The VEC also intends to expand on its current level of software resources right across all subject areas on the curriculum.

The CEO concluded by saying that “the outcome of all these developments will be e-enabled and e-ready schools/centres that provide every opportunity for the full integration of ICT in the teaching and learning process. To assist teaching staff in meeting this challenge it is intended to place a focus on the integration of ICT in teaching and learning in future teacher CPD courses organised by Co. Louth VEC”.