Western Australia's Department of Education and Training has completed a technology infrastructure upgrade at 100 schools, with another 105 to go.
DET completed the first phase of Learning with ICT -- involving 14 schools in the Albany area -- in January. Learning with ICT is the successor to the department's 100 Schools project which kicked off in 2003, and involved key upgrades to schools' IT and communications infrastructure, along with associated professional development for staff.
"The infrastructure delivery and implementation of the 100 Schools project has been delivered, the professional learning and development component will continue for up to three years," the department's deputy director of General Finance and Administration Peter McCaffrey told ZDNet Australia late last week.
"There have been a further 105 schools added into what is now known as the Learning with ICT project. Implementation of the infrastructure in these additional schools will be completed within the four years of the project, which began in 2005. The final phase is due to be completed in December 2009," he added.
The executive said the Learning with ICT project involved the provision of additional computers to schools, electrical upgrades, network cable upgrades and professional development of staff.
Although DET is utilising some Apple Macs in the rollout and last week went to market for a supplier of Apple hardware, the California-based PC maker appears to be a minor part of the department's plans.
"Ninety-six percent of the department's computers are Windows/Intel while the remaining four percent are Apple computers," McCaffrey said.
The rest of the rollout works better than the last - what a screw up. Mind you - it's all based on same rubbish central systems that have been inflicted on the original group of schools.. so why would it be any better. I pity the teachers & students at the mercy of these clowns...