UPTON WELCOMES " BROADBAND FOR SCHOOLS" ROLLOUT AS THE FOUNDATION STONE FOR A SECOND LEVEL SUBJECT
Issued : Tuesday 7 February, 2012
Labour Party Councillor Henry Upton welcomed the news that broadband is to be made available across the country for all secondary schools.
"I was delighted to learn that high tech broadband is to be made accessible to all secondary schools in the country , with over 200 schools to be connected by September. The Crumlin Kimmage area that I represent has a number of secondary schools , already very computer literate, but in need of that extra support that high speed broadband access will provide".
Councillor Upton continued " High tech learning and teaching is no longer a luxury but an absolute necessity , if Irish children are to compete with their international peers. The provision of broadband in schools will provide a sound basis for students to develop their IT knowledge and access the high skill jobs necessary to promote Ireland as a leader in technology.
"I welcome the decision of Ministers Quinn and Rabbitte in joining forces to ensure that this facility will be available to all schoolchildren shortly. Furthermore, I would advocate that IT should become an examination subject, as soon as full resources are in place in all schools. This development would give impetus to students to become more computer literate and provide a platform for them to further develop their IT knowledge. It is reasonable that IT should be a second level subject given that it forms such an important part of everyday life, but also a crucial driver of our economy. Third level colleges throughout the country are providing many academic courses for their students. It should follow that a second level school subject would form the basis of the development of such teaching programmes at third level.
Cllr 
